A young Believer in Birmingham, Alabama recently inquired whether the veneration of the image of our Dear Leader contravenes the proscription against making graven images.

This is a weighty question, so I referred it to the eminent theologian Phillip Merrill, President and Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States and former chairman of the board of Capital-Gazette Communications, Inc. Mr. Merrill responded as follows:

Properly speaking, the veneration we pay to the image of our Dear Leader is dulia, a theological term signifying the honour paid to the saints and Good Angels, as opposed to latria, which means the worship given to God alone. St. Thomas (II-II:103:3) bases the distinction on the difference between God's supreme dominion and that which one man may exercise over another. Paying dulia to the image of our Dear Leader thus does not contravene the injunction against worship of graven images, as it is not "worship" in the true sense. I hope this answers your question.

Indeed it does, Mr. Merrill, thank you.

I should mention that there is a movement afoot amongst the inner curia of the White House to elevate our Dear Leader to the Fourth Person of the Trinity. I will let you know if I hear anything else in that regard.

posted by grytpype at 12:35 PM