Anti-Chick References
[Ed. note: The following Chick references were collected and reprinted from Catholic Answers by reader Ramon. Thanks Ramon!]
I'm also responding to the recent entry in your Chick Memories section.
Catholic sources have a surprising abundance of (not very complimentary) Jack Chick references. It's strange for me to find so much material on Chick in conservative Catholic bookstores and nary a trace of a Chick tract in most evangelical bookstores! I'll reprint 3 paragraphs from Karl Keating (author of the hate-mail you reprinted), in his book entitled Catholicism and Fundamentalism. This is just a small sample of the many (at least 13 pages worth) Chick references scattered throughout his book.
From Chapter 8, unambiguously titled At the Fringe:
"Jack Chick is generally regarded as the king of the anti-Catholic publishers. He has received more attention in the Catholic press since 1980 than all other professional anti-Catholics combined, and his rantings against the Church have inspired even Protestant publications, such as Christianity Today, to investigate his operation. His ideas are so perverse, his hate mongering so outlandish, that even some anti-Catholics shun him. If the average Catholic has heard anything about the recent revival of anti-Cathiolic prejudice, he has heard about Jack Chick.
"Because of all the publicity, two things have happened. Chick and his chief assistant, Alberto Rivera (who claims to be a one-time Jesuit and bishop), have been given a prominence in the anti-Catholic movement they in fact do not have, their writings seeming to be more influential than they really are, and other anti-Catholic organizations--the ones that produce the converts to fundamentalism--have been ignored. It may be that in some Catholic publications Chick and Rivera have received more column inches than anyone other than the Pope. And they simply have not been worth it, because their barks are far out of proportion to their bites. They make good copy but few converts and nowhere near the converts one would expect from all the fireworks.
"The other problem is that coverage of them has meant coverage of other anti-Catholic organizations has been shallow. While full-page articles have been devoted to Chick Publications' comics, in most Catholic papers only passing comments have been given to the organizations that really have been dragging Catholics out of the Church and into fundamentalism. Chick and Rivera have thrown something of a shadow across the fundamentalist landscape, and it is sometimes hard to realize there are other groups lurking in the bushes. One reason for this is that Chick has sought publicity as though he were running for office, while most professional anti-Catholics quietly go about their work, making no effort to grab headlines. They want converts, not notoriety. To seek the public eye is to put oneself on the spot."
These (above) references were published in 1988, well before Alberto died. Though I'm a staunch fundamentalist, I recommend the book to anyone interested in learning more about the debate between the Pope and the Protestant, and particularly to those who are interested in hearing the pro-Catholic side of the argument. I suspect that most of the books sold in Catholic bookstores that contain the word "fundamentalism" in their titles also devote a good amount of space to our main man, Jack Chick! It's only a matter of time until we find racks at such stores that are filled with faithful Catholic Chick tract parodies!
-Ramon
[Ed. Note: One claim (made above) really sounds like the author is whistling in the dark: "They (Chick tracts) make good copy but few converts and nowhere near the converts one would expect from all the fireworks." If this is true, then why all the fuss? Why does Catholic Answers keep harping on Chick so much? Why did they recently send the mass mailing that warned Catholics of all the converts Chick Tracts were going to garner at World Youth Day (complete with its very own Chick tract enclosed). Either the influence of Chick Tracts have suddenly and dramatically increased since this decade old book was published, or the author was blowing smoke from the very beginning.]
Here's an open letter I e-mailed to Patrick Madrid, the author of Surprised By Truth, publisher of Envoy, and long time Chick critic:
Hey Pat,
I've been reading Surprised by Truth 2 and enjoying it. I'm an avid Jack Chick comic tract collector, so when I ran across your account of the Chick tracts, I was especially amused. However, don't you think you're being rather hard on Chick? Certainly you realize he's no bigot, he's just a religious revolutionist who's trying desperately to save Catholics from what he thinks is damnation. Based on his strict Fundamentalists interpretation of the Bible, he's got reason to be concerned. And Chick makes his motives very clear. Those "venomous anti-Catholic tracts" you describe are actually directed toward winning Catholics over to his point of view. That's a far cry from "hate lit". And it's not as if Catholics don't try to recruit and convert Protestants. A more gentle approach would seem to be in order. Calling someone a bigot these days is kinda like calling them a Nazi. Or do you think I'm way off base?
I understand that "The Death Cookie" is offensive, but Christians are supposed to be understanding, forgiving, and a little sense of humor wouldn't hurt either. Rather than responding in kind, how about turning the other cheek? I don't mean to sound critical, but your reaction did seem a little knee-jerkish. (Not that I don't act the same way on many occasions). But for an established author with time to measure each remark, don't you think you were overdoing it just a bit?
-KK 12/12/00
Here's Pat's response:
Dear KK,
Thanks for your note and for you patience with my tardiness in getting back to you.
I guess only God knows if Jack Chick was sincere, but based on the kind of vicious things his comics contain (not just against Catholics) I myself am inclined to suspect that he did not have the virtue of charity foremost in mind when he wrote them. My impression of his work leads me to believe that he was indeed a bigot, and not merely someone who was concerned for Catholics' spiritual welfare. His "writings" show a deep hatred for the Church and for Catholics. At least that's my read on it. And believe me, I hope I am wrong. I'd like to be wrong and find out some happy day that Jack was working in good faith and was at some point touched by God's grace and that I'll meet him in heaven (assuming I myself make it, of course).
Best wishes in Christ for a happy and peaceful new year.
Sincerely,
Patrick Madrid, Publisher, Envoy Magazine 1/1/01
Hmmmm. It sounds like Pat is going to continue to assume the worst in the competition's motives. But that's okay... At least he and Jack both have something in common! And I'm sure Chick won't mind that this is one instance when the Ecumenical moment isn't moving forward. Haw-haw-haw!
3.20.01