Small world but very nice visit with him and the two other Benedictines!
American elected new abbot primate of Benedictine order
- Cindy WoodenSeptember 12, 2016
Abbot Gregory Polan. (Credit: http://www.conceptionabbey.org/)
Friday, October 7, 2016
BENEDICTINE PRIMATE AT GELATORIA!
I just had cena at a trattoria at the end of Borgo Pio. Afterward Fr. Patrick Foley and I went to a gelatoria across the street. There were three Benedictines in the gelatoria and one of them was the newly elected PRIMATE of all Benedictines. He is from Conception Abby in Missouri.
Small world but very nice visit with him and the two other Benedictines!
Small world but very nice visit with him and the two other Benedictines!
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49 comments:
I've met him. He's creepy, but bright.
Creepy is the devil who wants you to vote for him so that he can get control of the most powerful country in the world. His base are uneducated people who believe his lies. He will even promise to end the killing of unborn children. He could care less. Be very careful who you vote for. Creepy is a perfect word for the devil. Don't let others tell you that your church will excommunicate you because you used your head when you voted. So many are fooled as he laughs and laughs. Now that is Creepy.
Creepy:
"Hey! Look! A monk!"
"That reminds me of the US elections."
Anonymous,
Perhaps women should beware of Trump supporters. After today, women should keep a safe distance from any man who still openly supports him.
I listened to Theresa May's conference speech yesterday, and, whether one likes her conservative politics or not, she is clearly an intelligent and respectable leader. That's what the US Republicans should have had this year.
Anonymous,
Also, he is not the devil. You give him too much credit. He's just a crude entertainer who's convincing his audience to provide him a new stage.
Anonymous at 9:01, you just described the Clinton's perfectly, they are the very personification of evil. You sound like Satan tempting Eve in the Garden. Does George Soros pay you to post here to depress faithful Catholics?
Anonymous @ 9:01 AM
As if Bill Clinton (who has also said lewd and sexist things in private conversations) is not creepy? Numerous women have also accuse him of sexual assault. Did you vote for him when he ran for the Presidency despite what was known about him? Would you vote for him if he was running on the Democratic ticket today?
I take the position with Mr Trump that Hillary has taken with Bill. I'll stick with him despite his flaws. That is a good position to take since otherwise it calls into question either Hillary's lack of good judgement or alludes to her political ambition and opportunism. Mr Trump does offer some hope of getting the country back on the right track.
rcg, Anonymous is likely a paid Soros troll sent here to depress faithful Catholics.
Dems have NO moral standing to criticize Trump's locker room language. Unlike Bill Clintoon who did nasty things with a cigar! This is a Hillary distraction to keep people focusing on her record of "accomplishments."
TJM Hilary Clinton is NOT Bill Clinton. A group of ministers in my town INCLUDING CATHOLICS have signed a petition stating they will NOT support DT. "Locker Room" talk is that what you call it??? You have serious problems. Your candidate is an adulterer Liar, bigot, racists, and YOU QUESTION A DEM MORAL STANDARDS? You better look after your own soul and stop playing God. DT's latest "locker room talk" as you call it is sexual harassment and his behavior is against the law. Don't tell others who is "not moral" if this is the person you want to lead this country. You must be uneducated just like his base. "Locker Room" talk indeed.
Any man who thinks that what Trump says is just "locker room" talk. I wonder if they would want him saying that about their daughter. And...... Hilary is NOT Bill Clinton. Anyone who votes for that man is just as evil and responsible as he is. He tricks you that he will do something about abortion. He laughs behind your back and then goes home to his "golden locker room"
Faithful Catholic Don't you know Divorce is a sin? I guess its ok that Trump has been married (or so called married) three times. You need to think about WHO has a lack of "Good Judgement" You support Divorce, adultery..... don't call yourself a faithful catholic.
Anonymous:
From what I've read, Hillary treats people badly and curses like a sailor. Both candidates are flawed. So it comes down to the difference in the party platforms.The Church recognizes that in some cases, annulments, (and therefor, divorce) are licit resolutions to certain marriage situations. Abortion can never be a licit choice. Mr Trump's lack of judgement comes down to his personal life. Hillary's not only involves her personal life, but also what she did in public positions of responsibility which is more apropos and pertinent to the office she is seeking.
God chose a pagan , Cyrus, to repatriate the Jewish people to their homeland and to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.
God chose a man, St Paul(Saul) who was complicit in the murder of Christians, to join the Church and help to convert others to the Faith.
God's ways are not our ways.
This is not to imply that God is involved in such a way in this election, but if He was, He certainly would not choose a candidate who will continue to give money to the largest abortion provider in the U.S.
Ok Anonymous, if a woman reading this blog finds out that her husband used such language eleven years ago, what should she do? Divorce him? You say that that is a sin so to you that would not be an option. I suppose she could separate from him but they would still be married. I'm thinking that to most people this would be a drastic response to what amounts to a moment of verbal indiscretion. So I'm thinking that this hypothetical woman would remain married to, and continue to support someone like Mr Trump, unless he was guilty of something worse. This is the position that those who continue to support Donald Trump are taking.Of course there are the opportunists who only tacitly support him and wait for something to come up to allow then to abandon him.
I've been in many locker rooms in the last 30 years. Not once have I encountered anything even remotely like the vile, lewd, and profoundly evil words of Donald Trump.
Those who vote for him approve his words, his behavior, his adultery, his fornication 100%.
Those who claim they are voting for him BUT they disapprove are full of self delusion.
Faithful Catholic, Abortion is the most horrible crime in the world. But.. Donald Trump is only using the unborn child to win an election. He will do nothing to stop the murder of children. If that is your reason for voting for him then you are misguided. He supported abortion before he decided to run for office. Hilary did not commit adultery. Instead she help up her head and maintained a home for her daughter. Yes divorce is a sin or at least if you are Catholic. You cannot have communion if you are divorced.
There is no proof that Hilary has done anything that is illegal during her terms in office. She has experience and can actually show works that she has done for this country and for children. She is just as competent as any man. She has supported our president who was not given a chance because he was black. President Obama has dignity and has lived a moral life with his wife and children. He was abused from the moment he took office. He was abused by Donald Trump.
Donald Trump is a crude man who only wants power. He is not sorry for the words he said he is only sorry that he was caught. When parents have to turn off the television to keep children from hearing a man running for president talk the way he does then there is a problem. He has no respect for women, African Americans, Families, workers, or other nations that disagree with him. He only says what he wants people to hear so they will give him the power of the most important office in the world.
I totally agree with Anonymous @ 10:22 anyone who supports him and gives him their vote approves his words, his behavior his adultery his fornication 100%. The pope has said we must use our conscience in times like these. To say you are voting for him Only because of the abortion issue is exactly what he wants. You are as Anonymous says "full of delusion" Delusion is so dangerous.
Many people voted to re-elect Bill Clinton to the Presidency despite the fact that he committed an adulterous , lewd, sexual act with a young White House intern. Hillary Clinton did not abandon him even though he did far worse than Mr Trump, and he did it while he was President! You probably know people who voted for Mr Clinton, because to them what he did was not enough of an issue to disqualify him from being re-elected. It was for me ,since he did this in the White House itself, and it was not just lewd talk, which, by the way, he is also know for using. It is interesting that some of these people are now so judgemental when it comes to Mr Trump. Anonymous @ 10:22 PM, this kind if talk starts for many young men in the high school years (these days in some case even before then). I heard this kind of talk many years ago when I was in high school. I'm shocked at the lyrics of some of the hip-hop and rap songs young people are listening to today. You should look some of them up on the internet to see for yourself. I did and I certainly couldn't type them on this blog, yet Mr Obama on many occasions had some of these people at the White House.
Anonymous @10:06 AM, you say:" Donald Trump is only using the unborn child to win an election. He will do nothing to stop the murder of children". You may be right, but that is just conjecture on your part. We KNOW by her own words what Hillary will do, unless she undergoes a Saul-like conversion. I vote on what a candidate says he or she will do, not hypothetical possibilities.
I did not vote for Bill Clinton when he ran the second time. Hilary did not abandon him because divorce is a sin. She kept her family together just like the marriage vows say "for better or worse" "in good times and bad" She honored her vow to God. Bill Clinton was not "far worse" than Trump. He has not been married three times, insulted parents of dead veterans, used racial slurs, and encouraged Russia to hack into our data bases. You say Bill did his sins in the White House... Trump has never been in the white house so you know NOTHING about what he will do.
Most young men (and I am a coach) DO NOT TALK THAT WAY IN A LOCKER ROOM. Hip Hop and Rap music for teenagers has nothing to do with Donald Trump. Donald Trump is 70 years old. He supported the Playboy magazine, has been married three times, has tried to have affairs while married, has grouped and insulted women, calls blacks "lazy" Insults people who are overweight, cheats his workers, won't release his taxes because he know he has PAID NO TAXES, Wants to be commander of our military and yet "his foot hurt too much to serve"
No matter WHAT anyone says President Obama has been a dignified, Harvard Educated lawyer, calm and fair diplomat, has cried with parents when their children were Killed in schools. He is a moral leader and is insulted due to his race. Shame on you for even putting such a man in the same category as Donald Trump. President Obama respects women, has been a wonderful father, and has begged and begged for changes in our country. He has saved the Auto Industry, made sure Americans can afford to go to the Doctor and has been a loyal and devoted father. His children are educated, will attend Harvard in the Fall and have never once been a disgrace to the White House.
You go ahead and vote for what a candidate says he will do. Your candidate on fact checker Lies about 90% of the time. He even lies about lies. I don't judge you. Thiis is America people can vote for who they want. The pope says to use knowledge and vote with your head. The choice is yours. I just resent posters on this blog telling me that I commit a mortal sin when I choose not to vote for a person who will lie about anything. Including abortion.
Anonymous:
Even when I went was in high school most young men did not use that language in the Locker room. No coach would allow it. Outside of school was a different story though and I would say it would not be surprising if things are worse today, given what is on TV, the Internet and radio. Ask your high school players to write down and bring to you the lyrics of popular hip-hop and rap songs. The language Mr Trump used is tame compared to some of what they use. These kids have NOT been influenced by Mr Trump, but they are by the garbage and filth put out by the Entertainment industry. Mr Obama and his family have for the most part been good role models and I am not comparing him to Mr Trump, but he did invite some of these hip-hop and rap musicians to the White House. I haven't heard or read about Mr Trump calling blacks "lazy" (I'm not claiming he didn't say that), but there is a recording of Hillary calling young blacks "predators". She may wish now that she hadn't said that but she did say it. You say:"Trump has never been in the white house so you know NOTHING about what he will do." That is true. I do know by her own words what Hillary will do.
As far as Mr Trump,I am always hopeful that people who say they will do the right thing will do so, even though there have been too many times I have been disappointed. Still, I continue to hope for the best.
Via the Catholic blogosphere, I have encountered my right-wing Catholics who trashed His Holiness for his having granted meetings to...sinners.
How awful!
Various right-wingers have insisted that the Pope's willingness to go among sinners reveals his "evil" heart.
Example: This past August, Hebe de Bonafini, who was a fierce critic of Pope Francis/Cardinal Bergoglio, met Pope Francis to apologize to him for the hateful comments that she had directed at him. Certain right-wingers were enraged that Pope Francis had granted her a private audience.
They insisted that "evil" people to whom Pope Francis had granted audiences revealed his "evil" "heart.
Hmmm...suddenly, right-wing Catholics who have thrown in with Donald Trump...right-wingers who denounced the Pope's meetings with sinners...are trapped in the following situation:
Do they continue to support Trump in the face of his filthy, evil remarks related to women...married women? Or do they shun Donald Trump? They insist that Pope Francis shun sinners.
Well, various right-wingers have determined to remain attached to Donald Trump.
Suddenly, they insist that a person's moral character is unimportant. There isn't any need to distance one's self from a person who speaks and acts in vile fashion
Wow! Talk about a flip-flop.
Pope Francis is a vile man for having gone amongst sinners...but it's acceptable to remain attached to Donald Trump.
I support my comments about the right-wing's sudden, two-faced flip-flop:
==========================================================
August 30, 2016 A.D. Morality matters:
https://mundabor.wordpress.com/2016/08/30/the-popes-friends/
==========================================================
Morality doesn't matter:
October 9, 2016 A.D....we need not "care a straw about the moral fortitude and degree of saintliness..."
https://mundabor.wordpress.com/2016/10/09/the-besieged-question-their-generals-morality/
===========================================================
Let us face it...the right-wing hates Pope Francis. They look to defame him at every turn. But they exempt themselves from the standards to which they demand that Pope Francis adhere.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Barack Obama is an anti-American, anti-Caucasian, loser propped up by affirmative action and Leftist interests. Calling him a moral leader is a real gut-slammer...LOL! He is an incompetent twit.
Anyone who votes for Hillary Clintoon, who has said fetus' have no rights until they are born alive have committed a mortal sin and if they do not confess they will go to hell. Obama when he was a state senator in Illinois voted that a child that survived an abortion did not have a right to live and should be denied medical care. Have you people no conscience, no decency? Why are you defiling Father McDonald's website with your depraved ideology? Obama has referred to Republicans as "the enemy" and if they "bring a knife to a gun fight, we bring a gun." Joseph Goebbels would be proud of your big lies. I could go on with a myriad of examples, but fake catholics like you aren't worth any more words.
Is it a mortal sin to vote for Donald Trump as he is pro-abortion?
Donald Trump last month reiterated his support for abortion when he declared the following: "I am opposed to abortion except for rape, incest and life of the mother."
Donald Trump believes that there are (at least) three reasons as to why abortion is acceptable. However, His Holiness Pope Francis has reiterated the True Church's teaching (via Vatican II) that abortion is an "unspeakable crime."
Therefore, would a Catholic who supports Donald Trump, who is pro-abortion, share in the murder of innocents that would take place should Mr. Trump become president?
Should he be elected president, Donald would support thousands of abortions that would occur via the "exceptions" that he favors. In turn, would not the deaths of the fetuses in question be on the hands of those who voted for Donald Trump?
In Donald Trump's world, we encounter the following sick, satanic situation:
-- Human being "A", who was conceived outside the "exceptions" that Donald Trump favors, would be permitted to live.
-- Human being "B", who was conceived, for example, via incest, would be subjected to death as Donald Trump favors abortion in that situation.
Baby "A"...you live. Baby "B"...too bad...you die, as Donald Trump has determined that it's acceptable to murder you.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Donald Trump "opposes" abortion, except, as he has said, "for rape, incest and life of the mother."
Donald Trump's "I oppose abortion except..." stance is flawed. Anybody can reply logically to Donald Trump's compromised stance on abortion with the following:
If Donald Trump has the right to determine that there are three situations during which abortions are acceptable, then the next person has the right to determine that there are four, five, six...situations during which abortions are acceptable.
If Donald Trump has the right to determine that abortion is acceptable, for example, in the case of incest, then Sally Smith has the right to determine that abortion is acceptable when a poor (financially) woman is pregnant.
After all, who is Donald Trump to determine when abortion is acceptable or unacceptable? Why doesn't Sally Smith have that right?
If Donald Trump is free to determine when abortion is acceptable, then each person is free to do the same.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
When it comes to the "unspeakable crime" of abortion, I give thanks unto God that via His Holiness Pope Francis, who is 100 percent in line with Holy Mother Church's ancient, God-given teachings on abortion, we have access to God's Truth in regard to abortion.
Pope Francis is 100 percent in support with the True Church's Culture of Life. Our peace-loving, pro-life Pope has time and again condemned abortion. Time and again Pope Francis has offered to us the path that leads to the Culture of Life.
Conversely, Hillary Clinton's stance on abortion leads to the Culture of Death. Donald Trump's stance on abortion leads to the Culture of Death as he claims that abortion is acceptable during three situations.
One way or the other, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump support the slaughter of human life.
We need to pray that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump (and all who favor abortion) will heed Pope Francis' holy teachings in regard to the Culture of Life.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
"The first rule of salvation is to keep the norm of the true faith and in no way to deviate from the established doctrine of the Fathers. For it is impossible that the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, who said, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church," [Matthew 16:18], should not be verified.
"And their truth has been proved by the course of history, for in the Apostolic See the Catholic religion has always been kept immaculate."
— The ancient Creed of Pope Saint Hormisdas.
Mark Thomas are you confused on who to vote for? I'm not.
Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, issued the following statement following the second presidential debate Sunday night.
“One candidate, Hillary Clinton, said in the second presidential debate that she would appoint a justice to the Supreme Court who would uphold Roe v. Wade, the decision that made abortion on demand legally permissible. One candidate, Donald Trump, said he would appoint a justice with views similar to those of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, who said that there was nothing in the Constitution to justify Roe. The difference in the candidates’ answers couldn’t be clearer or more important.
“To say that this election presents stark contrasts in the two candidates is an understatement. I applaud audience member Beth Miller,who asked the Supreme Court question because it really was the supreme moment of the night. Whoever controls the composition of the Supreme Court in the next four years will, in an untold number of ways, control the direction of the country for the next generation.”
Below is part of some thing I read from Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila
Archbishop of Denver:
"This year the Democratic party platform calls for the overturning of the Hyde Amendment, a provision that both parties have voted to include in the federal budget and on other spending bills for 40 years. The Hyde Amendment prohibits federal taxpayer money from being used for abortion. The platform is aggressively pro-abortion, not only in funding matters, but in the appointment of only those judges who will support abortion and the repealing of the Helms Amendment, which prevents the U.S. from supporting abortion availability overseas.
Conversely, the Republican party platform is supportive of the Hyde Amendment and just this year strengthened its support for life by calling for the defunding of Planned Parenthood, banning dismemberment abortion and opposing assisted suicide
Faithful Catholic, I am not confused voter. I don't vote for pro-abortion political candidates. That means that I will not vote for pro-abortion candidate Donald Trump. The same applies to Hillary Clinton.
I wondered why certain Catholics claim that it's acceptable to vote for pro-abortion Donald Trump. They claim that it's a mortal sin to vote for pro-abortion Hillary Clinton. Therefore, is it not a mortal sin to vote for pro-abortion Donald Trump?
I also question the "we must vote for Donald Trump in regard to Roe vs. Wade/Supreme Court" argument. The Republican party has scammed pro-lifers for decades in regard to the abortion issue.
Bottom line: Donald Trump supports the "unspeakable crime" of abortion. He supports the murder of human beings in cases related to "rape, incest and life of the mother."
I refuse to vote for a pro-abortion, Culture of Death candidate.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Mark Thomas
So what is your position? That you are not going to vote? Great. Hillary, unless she undergoes a conversion of heart is the worse of the two candidates. I know that one can dream of some alternate reality where at least one of the candidates perfectly mirrors Church moral teaching on every issue, especially the most important, such as abortion and embryonic stem cell research, but that is not the reality that exists today. So we can only vote for the better of two flawed candidates or for some third party one that has virtually no chance of winning.
You say "The Republican party has scammed pro-lifers for decades in regard to the abortion issue.."
Wrong.
It was a Republican President who nominated and a predominately Republican Senate that confirmed Justices Scalia, Thomas, Alito and Roberts. It is of the utmost importance who sits on the Supreme Court. Some of the justices nominated by a Republican President and confirmed by the Senate turned out to be not as conservative in some of their opinions as they were expected to be. You can't pin this on the Republicans. Many states with Republican governors and legislatures have passed and had signed into law substantive pro-life statutes only to have those struck down by liberal judges who in most cases were appointed and confirmed by Democratic office-holders. I will give more weight to, and accept what Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila and Father Frank Pavone and others in that camp have to say on this,than what you have to say. And I say that in all charity as a fellow Catholic.
By the way, Priests for Life has a side -by-side comparison of the platforms of the Republicans and Democrats which you can download from their web site.
You ask:"Therefore, is it not a mortal sin to vote for pro-abortion Donald Trump?"
Father Pavone will be voting for Donald Trump and he won't be committing a mortal sin in doing so.
Mark Thomas, by now you should have seen Hillary and her pals leaked emails mocking Catholics. Do you imagine fake catholics will now feel like they're suckers just like the Bernie Sanders fans who were also mocked by Mrs. "Superior"?
George, Father Pavone will vote for Donald Trump. So be it. That is Father Pavone's decision. Conversely, I will not vote for pro-abortion Donald Trump.
Donald Trump has declared his support of abortion in cases of "rape, incest and life of the mother." Donald Trump has determined that there are three situations during which it is acceptable to murder babies.
George, who gave Donald Trump the right to support the murder of babies?
Thank you.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Mark Thomas,
Instead of repeating that tired, DNC propoganda, please chew on this:
Trump plans to name a Pro-Life Coalition on Friday, RealClearPolitics has learned, with Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser as its national chairwoman. The GOP nominee will also adopt a new pledge to protect the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits Medicaid funding for most abortions — a law Democrat Hillary Clinton opposes.
Each Catholic is called to be pro-life. Unfortunately, many Catholics are not pro-life. Among staunch pro-life Catholics are those who claim that it's acceptable to vote for pro-abortion Donald Trump Catholics. On the other hand, they claim that it's unacceptable to vote for pro-abortion Hillary Clinton.
In their world, it is right and just supposedly to vote for pro-abortion Donald Trump. Conversely, it is a mortal sin supposedly to vote for pro-abortion Hillary Clinton.
I would like somebody please to explain as to how any Catholic — priest, religious, or laymen — who advances those claims has not lost his credibility in regard to respect for human life.
Who would take seriously a Catholic who would say..."I'm free to vote for pro-abortion Donald Trump...but anybody who votes for pro-abortion Hillary Clinton will be guilty of mortal sin."
Donald Trump's support for pro-abortion is acceptable? Really?
-- Donald Trump declared last month that he supports abortion in cases related to "rape, incest and life of the mother."
Does anybody here support Donald Trump's belief that we may murder babies conceived during those situations?
-- Donald Trump plays God in regard to human life. Donald Trump has determined that a baby conceived, for example, during a rape, deserves to be murdered.
We know that a rape is a violent act. A raped woman deserves great sympathy and care. We also know that the Church teaches that responding to the violent act of rape with the violent act of abortion is not God's way.
*******That is Satan's way.*******
However, Donald Trump has determined that it's acceptable to inflict violence to the point of death upon a baby conceived via rape.
If Donald Trump has the "right" (he doesn't) to determine that abortion is acceptable in this or that situation, then Hillary Clinton also has that "right" (she doesn't).
If Donald Trump can determine which babies live and die, then Hillary Clinton has the same "right" to play that game.
Unfortunately, pro-life Catholics who support pro-abortion Donald Trump have compromised with the Culture of Death. Said Catholics have destroyed their credibility in regard to speaking against Catholics (and others) who support pro-abortion Hillary Clinton.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
TJM, I don't repeat DNC propaganda. I repeat pro-life propaganda.
Should you wish to support pro-abortion Donald Trump (if that is your plan), then so be it. Should you wish to attempt to justify your vote for pro-abortion, Culture of Death Donald Trump, then so be it.
I am certain that in one way after another, you are far holier than I. But at least in regard to the abortion issue, unlike you, I have not compromised with the Culture of Death.
I don't vote for pro-abortion political candidates. Do you?
Pax.
Mark Thomas
TJM, please chew on this:
Donald Trump declared his support for abortion in cases of "rape, incest and life of the mother."
TJM, should you vote for Donald Trump, would the blood of babies aborted during those instances be on your hands?
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Mark Thomas,
With Trump there is hope. The Republican Party has a pro-life platform, the Abortion Party, well has a pro-abortion platform. Trump will appoint judges who will be pro life and will issue executive orders which begin to rein in the evil of abortion, Clinton will not. If Father Pavone is fine with Trump, that's good enough for me. Or are you performing more pro-life activities than Father Pavone?
So your inaction, will cause more abortions, and YOU will have blood on YOUR hands.
Mark Thomas:
Mr Trump was not my choice in the primaries. He won though. I wish we had better candidates to choose between, but you play with the cards your dealt.
There is no one -to-one equivalence between the two candidates when it comes to abortion. Hillary will continue to sign off on legislation to fund Planned Parenthood . Mr Trump said he will not. One candidate supports abortion, but with restrictions (Mr Trump), the other candidate supports abortion WITHOUT restrictions(Hillary)
As Faithful Catholic commented above in quoting Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of Denver, "this year the Democratic party platform is aggressively pro-abortion, not only in funding matters, but in the appointment of only those judges who will support abortion and the repealing of the Helms Amendment, which prevents the U.S. from supporting abortion availability overseas." If you a have a choice between taking two medications, both with unpleasant side effects, but at least one of which you must take or you will die, will you not take the one with the least side effects? Or would you not take either? Would you not consider how, and in what way, the the choice not to take either one might impact your wife and children (if that was your situation)? Pope Francis, on the way back from his recent trip, when asked to comment on the election in this country, urged "Catholics, study, pray and vote". He didn't tell Catholics to sit this one out.
Mark Thomas, follow the Holy Father's advice.
George, one can participate in the 2016 A.D. presidential election without having to vote for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. One can vote for third-party and write-in candidates.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
George said..."If you a have a choice between taking two medications, both with unpleasant side effects, but at least one of which you must take or you will die, will you not take the one with the least side effects? Or would you not take either?"
George, babies will die via abortions as Donald Trump supports the murder of babies in cases of "rape, incest and life of the mother."
Donald Trump supports the slaughter of human life via abortion. There isn't any way around that horrific fact. A vote for Donald Trump will perpetuate the "unspeakable crime" (from Vatican II as quoted by His Holiness Pope Francis) abortion.
George, I am unable in good conscience to vote for Donald Trump as he supports the murderous act of abortion. I do not desire to promote Satan's Culture of Death.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
TJM said..."With Trump there is hope."
Is there hope for babies whom Donald Trump has condemned to death in cases related to "rape, incest and life of the mother"?
=============================================
TJM said..."If Father Pavone is fine with Trump, that's good enough for me. Or are you performing more pro-life activities than Father Pavone?"
I can go that route with you.
Donald Trump: The False Compromise of the Pro Life Community
By Father Marcel Guarnizo
http://townhall.com/columnists/frmarcelguarnizo/2016/07/13/donald-trump-the-false-compromise-of-the-pro-life-community-n2192287
If Father Guarnizo is opposed to Donald Trump, then that's good enough for me. Is Father Pavone more pro-life than Father Guarnizo?
We can play the Father "A" supports Donald Trump...Father "B" opposes Donald Trump game.
But with all due respect, I don't turn to this or that priest to inform me as to whether I should vote for candidate "X".
As long as candidate "X" supports abortion, I will refuse to vote for candidate "X"...even if this or that priest supports candidate "X".
Pax.
Mark Thomas
TJM said..."So your inaction, will cause more abortions, and YOU will have blood on YOUR hands."
1. What inaction? I am not inactive in regard to the presidential election.
2. In regard to the issue of abortion, I will not have blood on my hands as I refuse to vote for pro-abortion candidates. I refuse to vote for Hillary Clinton.
As for Donald Trump, he supports abortion in cases related to "rape, incest, and life of the mother." Should Donald Trump become president, and a baby is murdered in line with Donald Trump's support for abortion, will you inform me please as to how I will have blood on my hands?
It is you, not I, who plans to vote for a pro-abortion candidate.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Mark Thomas:
I found a column which Father Marcel Guarnizo wrote in support Ted Cruz ( who,to my mind would have been a better candidate than Mr Trump, but alas, he did not prevail in the primaries.)
Mark Thomas, I believe Father Marcel Guarnizo to be a good priest (in what I've read about him).
Father Frank Pavone:
He is the National Director of Priests for Life and President of the National Pro-Life Religious Council, an umbrella group of various Christian denominations working to end abortion.
Father Shenan Boquet:
President of Human Life International, one of the pre-eminant Pro-Life organizations in the world, recently wrote the following about George Soros, a Hillary and Democrat Party supporter:
"Liberal billionaire George Soros is tirelessly waging war against the family in addition to promoting a pro-abortion agenda.
"Soros and his allies despise the family and the bedrock institutions, like the Catholic Church, that have brought peace and stability to our world."
"George Soros is not shy about his donations to radical liberal groups. His agenda is plain for all to see. This is a man who once said, 'I fancied myself as some sort of god.'
Fr Boquet has traveled to over 60 countries for the Pro-Life cause in the nearly six years since he joined HLI.
Human Life International describes itself as "the largest international pro-life organization in the world", noting that it has affiliates and associates in over 80 nations worldwide. It has collaborated with secular organizations as well as those of various other religious denominations
As far as being involved in and working for the Pro-Life cause, there is no equvalence between Father Guarnizo and Fathers Pavone and Boquet.
Kellyanne Conway, a Catholic, was named by Mr Trump to be his campaign manager in August. She has been described as the most Pro-Life person ever to hold that position (as campaign manager for a major Presidential candidate)
Mike Pence, who Mr Trump chose as his running mate, is arguably the most Pro-Life advocate to be on the ticket of a major Presidential candidate.
He could have made politically safer choices than these but he did not.
The 2016 Republican Platform(from Lifesite News):
"It calls – for the first time – for the defunding of Planned Parenthood, banning dismemberment abortion, opposing assisted suicide, halting the Obama administration's transgender restroom edit, restoring the traditional definition of marriage, and recognizing pornography as a public health hazard. he 2016 platform reiterates the GOP's support for a Human Life Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, clarifying that the 14th Amendment protects unborn children from being deprived of life, liberty of property without due process of law. The platform strongly supports parental rights, opposing “school-based clinics that provide referral or counseling for abortion and contraception.” New York City schools distributed 12,721 doses of Plan B, the morning after pill, without parental approval in 2012 alone."
Marjorie Dannenfelser(Susan B. Anthony President and a Catholic): “Notably, Republicans moved to advocate for the codification of the Hyde Amendment, longstanding bipartisan legislation which protects the conscience rights of taxpayers by ensuring public funds are not used for abortion on-demand. The new Democratic Party platform, on the other hand, supports repeal of this consensus policy.”
“The Republican platform has always been strong when it comes to protecting unborn children, their mothers, and the conscience rights of pro-life Americans..."
Might Mr Trump betray us? Sure. That is conjecture however, and I don't vote on conjecture. Unless she undergoes a miraculous conversion, we know by her current positions and philosophy what Hillary will do.
George said..."Might Mr Trump betray us? Sure. That is conjecture however, and I don't vote on conjecture."
I believe that we've had five presidents who never held elective office. Donald Trump has never served as a congressman, senator, mayor, governor, etc. His lack of governmental experience is monumental. Therefore, without even a hint of his having a track record in that regard, is it not your vote for Donald Trump based 100 percent upon conjecture?
Pax.
Mark Thomas
George, Deo gratias for Father Pavone's service to God and His Church. Deo gratias for Father Pavone's work in the pro-life movement.
My point to TJM was that his comment, "If Father Pavone is fine with Trump, that's good enough for me," could be countered with ease. Father Guarnizo's rejection of Donald Trump is just valuable as Father Pavone's support for Donald Trump.
That is, Father Pavone is not more qualified to render an "expert" opinion on the presidential race than is Father Guarnizo.
The fact that Father Pavone works in the pro-life field doesn't render his opinion of Donald Trump more important or more expert than Father Guarnizo's opinion of Donald Trump.
People may accept or reject either priest's opinion in question.
But the bottom line is that Donald Trump is pro-abortion. Donald Trump supports the murder of babies in cases of "rape, incest, and life of the mother."
If Father Pavone wishes to vote for Donald Trump, who supports abortion, then so be it.
Those who wish to throw in with Father Pavone will do so. I won't.
Thank you.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
I am familiar with the 2016 Republican Platform. Unfortunately, I have heard pretty much the same from the Republican party for decades. Beyond their pro-life rhetoric, the republican party has promised for decades to seal our borders and exercise financial responsibility.
The reality is that time and again, the Republican party has lied to and betrayed its base.
George, you may have confidence in the Republican party. I don't.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
It amazes me when I read right-wing blogs as to the following flip-flop among those who support Donald Trump for president:
Right-wingers have trashed His Holiness Pope Francis for his supposed lax approach to morality. However, when it comes to their support for Donald Trump, right-wingers insist..."Trump isn't running for Sainthood. We aren't electing a Saint. Who cares about Trump's sins?"
Please understand that I don't cast stones in judgment of souls. I thought, however, that as he is a Christian, Donald Trump is called to holiness. I thought that each Christian is "running for Sainthood." I thought that we are called to strive for a high level of holiness.
Suddenly, we are permitted to overlook Donald Trump's advancement of the Culture of Death. He is pro-abortion, traffics in sleazy "entertainment", boasts about sexual impurity, engages in vile talk, even about his own daughter, via radio with Howard Stern, but none of that matters.
I can support my claims about the two-faced approach that certain right-wing Catholics have taken in regard to Donald Trump. Here are Michael Matt and Chris Ferrara of The Remnant discussing why we need to support Donald Trump.
http://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/2807-never-hillary-the-catholic-position
-- At the 2:44 mark, Chris Ferrara said of Donald Trump is "in terms of sexual morality, a total low-life."
However, the right-wing insists that as she has aided and abetted supposedly Bill Clinton's alleged sexual immorality, Hillary Clinton is not fit to be president.
-- At the 1:44 mark, they insist that Donald Trump traffics in "revolting speech."
-- During the first four or so minutes alone, Ferrara and Michael denounce Donald Trump's marital history, affairs, and insist that he's not remotely a man of "sterling character."
However, Chris Ferrara and Matt Michael insist that we need to place Donald Trump, a "low-life" (The Remnant's word), in charge of America.
================================================================
Incredibly, in addition to The Remnant having insisted that Donald Trump, whom they support for president, is a "low-life." Matt Michael penned the following column in The Remnant:
Trash-Talking Trump
http://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/2800-trash-talking-trump
Written by Michael Matt | Editor
Michael Matt, who supports Donald Trump, offered the following stunning admission:
"Sure, Trump’s horrific banter would be a campaign killer in the America in which I grew up. But today? In 2016…after decades of perversion-peddling by the most powerful people in government, media and entertainment? The word “pervert” itself has lost its meaning under the watch of these perverts. Trump is no saint. (Was there ever any doubt of that?) He’s a product of the age.
"Over at Remnant TV last week we took some heat for contending that Donald Trump lost the first debate to Hillary Clinton, and lost badly, not merely on points, but also on character.
"He can be manipulated, either by flattery or insult — a characteristic not typical of men and women with strong moral character.
"Trump seems to be trying to cover something up about himself — something that looks like a perpetually guilty conscience."
====================================================
Never again do Catholic right-wingers have the "right (they didn't) to defame Pope Francis for his supposed penchant to look the other way when it comes to morality.
Never again can they condemn Pope Francis for his supposed association with and promotion of "low-lives" and "perverts."
Just remember that right-winger bashers of His Holiness Pope Francis have expressed their strong approval of Donald Trump for president...a pro-abortion man whom they've insisted is a perverse, foul-mouthed "low-life."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Mark Thomas:
I have for along time considered myself as an Independent -neither Republican nor Democrat.
I 've never bashed the Holy Father, Pope Francis.
You say:"The reality is that time and again, the Republican party has lied to and betrayed its base."
Some have, but not all.
Catholic Advocate website(the site is presently down) during the last election had a scorecard on how Catholic members of Congress voted on issues of importance to Catholic voters. Catholic Republicans, who tend to be the more conservative, vote with Church teaching at a much higher rate than Catholic Democrats.
U.S. Senate Number Voted with Church teaching?
Catholic Democrats 15 3%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catholic Republicans 9 *94%*
================================================
House of Representatives:
Catholic Democrat 65 6%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catholic Republicans 63 *98%*
Republican governors and legislatures have passed some very good, meaningful and Pro-life legislation. Democrat governors and legislatures have not.
Mark, how much better off we would be if there were two or three more justices on the Supreme Court such as Scalia, Roberts, Thomas and Alito,all of whom appointed by a Republican President, and confirmed by a Republican -controlled Senate. All of them Catholic, by the way.
We have two major candidates, one of who will be our next President. One, Hillary, has a political history and record-a bad one. The other, Donald Trump has no political history. I'll give the one with *no history* a chance against the known abominable candidate. We now know from Wikileaks that Hillary has a philosophy which is evidences a strong anti-Catholic Church bias.
The difference between the Republican and Democrat party platforms on the life issues are as different as night and day. There is no equivalence between the parties.
By the way, millions of Catholic will vote for Pro-abortion Hillary. How come you are only focusing on Mr. Trump?
George, I "focused" upon Donald Trump as the comments in this thread turned immediately to Donald Trump.
I ask questions that pertained to Donald Trump. Actually, my "focus" is much deeper than the issue of Donald Trump and his ideas. I am "focused" upon the fact that Catholic right-wingers, as they've done for years during elections, have trotted out the very serious notion that it's a mortal sin to vote for the pro-abortion Democrat...Hillary Clinton.
1. That notion is two-faced as right-wing Catholics will vote for pro-abortion Donald Trump...but somehow, their vote is "holy."
2. Actually, right-wing Catholics go far beyond that as they claim that it's a mortal sin to vote for third-party candidates. It is even a "mortal sin" supposedly to propose a write-in candidate.
3. There are pro-life third-party candidates/write-ins. However, it is a supposed "mortal sin" to vote for pro-life candidates, according to right-wing Catholics. We are dealing with Republican fanaticism in regard to right-wing Catholics.
4. Right-wing Catholics, in their fanatical support of the Republican party (yes, left-wingers are fanatical in their support of the Democratic party), have employed Catholicism to justify their political fanaticism.
5. Right-wing Catholics have rigged the election "game", so to speak, to such an extent that in their world, anybody who refuses to vote Republican will incur "mortal sin."
Again, right-wing Catholics have gone so far as to claim that it's even a mortal sin to vote for a third-party candidate (even a pro-life third-party candidate).
One must vote Republican or burn in hell, according to right-wing Catholics.
Is that Catholicism or Republicanism?
George, you are correct that millions of Catholics will vote for pro-abortion Hillary. Unfortunately, right-wing Catholics, via their fanatical support of the Republican party, have z-e-r-o credibility/moral standing to argue against Catholics who support pro-abortion Hillary Clinton.
That is, via their support for pro-abortion Donald Trump, how can a right-wing Catholic, without appearing two-faced, possibly argue against voting for pro-abortion Hillary Clinton?
There also is the fact that right-wing Catholics destroy their political credibility when they claim that it's a mortal sin to vote for a pro-life, third-party candidate.
There simply isn't a sentient, adult Catholic who will accept fanatical right-wing claims that one must vote Republican or incur mortal sin.
Should they desire credibility in their quest to dissuade left-wing Catholics from voting for pro-abortion politicians, then right-wing Catholics must practice what they preach.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
There is no equivalence between the the two major party platforms. The Republican platform is much more in line with Catholic teaching on a myriad of issues.I find this to be true. Do you? if not why not?
As I commented above on the Republican Platform above:
"It calls – for the first time – for the defunding of Planned Parenthood, banning dismemberment abortion, opposing assisted suicide, halting the Obama administration's transgender restroom edit, restoring the traditional definition of marriage, and recognizing pornography as a public health hazard. he 2016 platform reiterates the GOP's support for a Human Life Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, clarifying that the 14th Amendment protects unborn children from being deprived of life, liberty of property without due process of law. The platform strongly supports parental rights, opposing “school-based clinics that provide referral or counseling for abortion and contraception.” It calls for no use of tax dollars to fund abortion.
On abortion and other issues, we are losing in the courts. You can vote for a third party candidate if you so choose, but come January, it will be either Hillary or Donald Trump who will nominate jurists to the Federal bench. This will have far-reaching and long lasting consequences, not just for abortion, but for other important issues listed in the Republican platform not listed above, such as the issue of religious freedom.
Mark you need to look beyond your narrow focus and consider the larger picture.
George, I don't place as much confidence in the Republican platform as you. I have read Republican platforms going back decades. Republican platforms promised much that the Republicans failed to deliver to their base.
I think immediately of the many times that the Republican party promised to seal our borders. I think about the countless times that the Republican party promised to act responsible in matters financial.
George, I disagree with The Remnant's support of Donald Trump. However, on October 8, 2016 A.D., Michael Matt of The Remnant offered the following:
"And if you want to blame anyone for the rise of Donald Trump to the top of the political dung heap, blame the insufferable RINOs — Paul Ryan, George H.W. Bush (who is voting for Hillary, by the way) Mitt Romney, John McCain and the rest of the faux conservatives in the GOP who’ve been lying to pro-life, pro-family, pro-God America for decades, and who have been so busy “reaching across the aisle” that they finally just fell over into the other side."
George, that is the unfortunate truth about the Republican party. They have lied for decades to pro-lifers, pro-family voters.
George, I disagree with you in regard to the Republican and its platform in that the platform is something that should spur us to vote for the Republican In Name Only Republican party.
However, I respect and am thankful for your attachment to and promotion of the Culture of Life. George, I know that you desire the very best for unborn babies. I know that you desire the very best for America.
George, I appreciate reading your comments.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
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