MY COMMENTS FIRST: If a political party and its candidate advocated for “separate but equal” segregation, as was the case for many politicians, usually democrats, in the south through the mid 1960’s, wouldn’t the Church today condemn that party and any politicians advocating such?
Yet there is a timidity to say what Bishop Joseph Strickland said concerning if a Catholic may be a democrat. Why? Because of fear of losing tax exempt status. Or because of the good things democrats advocate and not wanting to lose that voice. It is kind of like supporting Mussolini because of the good things he did for Italians, like getting the trains to run on time, but overlooking his fascist ideology and friendship with Adolph Hitler.
But worse than that, a fear of being prophetic, like the prophets of old, who had to face backlash from the very people they were calling to conversion, and often that backlash was violent, has sanitized the words of many bishops and priests so as to render the Church’s message impotent. Today, Catholics who are democrats, like Vice President Biden and his Catholic followers, get angry at any prophetic voice from bishops and priests challenging their apostasy as it concerns the Church’s seamless garment of life unravels if the protection of the innocent unborn “thread” is pulled and clipped.
Unless a republican or independent is calling for the massacre of illegal immigrants, those who are poor and put a drain on our economy, the Church’s teachings on migrants, the poor and other social justice issues while important are not as important as protecting human life from murder and massacre beginning with the innocent unborn. And to boot, democrats are calling for the killing of a child who survives a late term abortion or partial birth abortion. They also endorse euthanasia.
Do we need more Fr. James Altmans and Bishop Stricklands? What would happen in the Catholic Church’s rank and file clergy and laity if we had more? Would the progressives leave the Church or have they done so already?
Fr. James Altman: "You cannot be a Catholic and a Democrat. Period." -- Endorsed by the Bishop of Tyler, Texas
This afternoon, Bishop Joseph Strickland, of the Diocese of Tyler (Texas), endorsed this important video by Fr. James Altman, of La Crosse (Wisconsin).
40 comments:
Fr. Altman is a real CATHOLIC priest! He is also, as my Jewish friends would say a MENSH. When the woke police start rounding up Catholics they will start with him.
Imagine if the Archbishops of Washington, Chicago, Boston, New York, Los Angeles etc would endorse this video how long would pro-abortion politicians lasting the anti-life party?
Shame on the Catholic hierarchy of this country!
Dear Family...
The Church can be prophetic with or without tax-exempt status.
Dear Family...
Fr. Altman says "When politics and politicians act in an immoral way we most certainly do have the duty and the obligation to speak and speak up about it."
Dear Family, I await Fr. Altman's pseudo-slick video in which he speaks up about the on-going sexual immorality of the current occupant of the White House in his third "marriage."
Dear Family, I will await Fr. Altman's equal treatment of those politicians he calls "godless" AND the First Lady who, though living openly with a man who is not her husband, he refers to as "his (Trump's) Catholic wife."
Dear Family, don't be beguiled by this priest's melodrama, his fear mongering, his self-proclaimed extraordinary status. Don't be taking in by his prancing about as the one, maybe the only one, who really knows what's going on.
Dear Family, don't be taken in by his predictions regarding "the cataclysm that is approaching."
Dear Family, he might as well be a preacher-man on the Jimm Bakker Show.
It does seem to me that you are obsessed with sexual sins, perhaps your neo Puritanism or Jansenism and see those on the same level of the massacre of children. I think you need therapy?
So I take it you won't speak up about Trump's adultery because if you were to call him out, as Fr. Altman says you should, you would be accused of being "obsessed" with sexual sins?
Dear Family, interesting...
I am not a psychiatrist, but we know many, many, many people in politics and in the clergy be they celibate or married, have sexual sins some of which are pathological. Unless these politicians and their political parties make it a plank bid to get re-elected, I am happy to leave it to them and God and their clergy and or psychiatrist. There are some who indeed promote pedophilia not as a disorder but as the way God made them and insist it should be legal too, like same sex “marriage”. Should CAtholics oppose that or embrace the one who promotes it because he’s a democrat?
President Trump and many moral and personality disorders. I have yet to see him or the republicans making that a campaign issue and making sure these represent the Republican Party as an official plank.
Romulus Augustus here, Father Altman said what had to be said, again these ARE NOT your parents or Grandparents Democrat's, JFK would be considered a Conservative today, the Democrat party of today are out ant out Marxist-Leninist's haters of our country, police, military the family and Christianity, BLM and ANTIFA are terrorist organizations bent on the destruction of our Nation as we know it.
I was listening to Taylor Marshall’s podcast when I heard him speak of Father Altman and I spent the weekend listening to his homilies. Thankfully he has a faithful Bishop unlike most priests in this country today.
Let’s see how brave our SavannaH diocese priests will be in the face of the coming persecution of the church.
By the way nice mass yesterday Father.
President Trump's adultery need not be a part of anyone's platform for it to be 1) mortally sinful, and 2) something that Fr. Altman would call him out for.
But The Self-Proclaimed Extraordinary Fr. Altman doesn't do that and we are left to wonder why and say "Hmmmm...."
Dear Family, Trump's adultery is public, therefore it is a scandal. "His Catholic Wife" participates in that adultery and, therefore, contributes to the scandal and should also be condemned by Fr. Altman, but I ain't holdin' my breath.
Family Dearest, we can add greed, lying, calumny, racism, and a host of other sins to Trump's scorecard. Where is the "Extraordinary" Fr. Altman when he is needed? Why does he turn a blind eye to these destructive behaviors?
Poor, poor, poor, puritanical Jansenistic A@8:59, you continue with your straw man perhaps thinking these are campaign issues that are platforms for the Trumps and the Republican Party. They aren’t. These issues are matters of conscience and between Trump, his Psychiatrist and/or confessor. He hasn’t made these things, things he is running on.
Whereas the Democrats and their candidates make the massacre of children their public policy and aims. You are definitely mixing apples and oranges, maybe cumquats and navel oranges from California?
I don't know what Donald Trump's upbringing was. I know he is not Catholic. What I do know is that Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi were raised Catholic and still purport to be such.
And you know what? ▒ I expect more from a Catholic ▒. Especially when it comes to those in the public square as regards the example they give and policies they support.
It bothers me when a prominent Catholic politician officiates at a same-sex wedding as did Mr. Biden.
It bothers me when a prominent Catholic is so adamant in supporting with tax monies the leading abortion services organization, Planned Parenthood, as is Nancy Pelosi.
It bothers me to no end when a Catholic politician supports embryonic stem cell research, abortion at every stage of fetal development and calls transsexualism the “civil rights issue of our time” as does Mr. Biden.
It bothers me in the extreme when Catholic politicians endorse and support the platform of a political party that on the most fundamental issues of our time is diametrically opposed to Catholic teaching as do Mr. Biden and Ms. Pelosi.
Anonymous, you can try and explain to me why you would want to support and vote for such politicians, but ad hominem attacks against the incumbent office-holder just don't cut it with me.
It appears you don't know what Jansenism is. Be that as it may...
I have no delusions that Trump's very public, scandaous sins are part of his platform. More to the point, they will lead him to hell should he die in those sins. IF - and it is a very big "IF" - Fr. Altman is concerned about the final destination of people's souls, he would not hesitate to call out the Present Occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
But is that his concern? He says when politics and politicians act in an immoral way, the Church has a duty and obligation to speak. Fr. Altman mentions nothing about political platforms - that is the Straw Man you have inserted in order to avoid speaking to Trump's sins.
When he includes the "hoax" of climate change, when he waxes not-so-eloquent about the "Marxist" Black Lives Matter," the "godless educational system," DACA, his motivations are revealed.
At the end of the day, says Altman, he does research. Baloney. He did not one second of "research" on Catholics who voted for Obama. Not one second. He made up some tale that would make his conclusions sounds impressive. They're not.
NtB - First, I don't have to explain anything to you. Second, pointing out the scandalous behavior of the Occupant is not an "ad hominem" argument. He is an adulterer, he is a fornicator by his own admission, he was unfaithful in marriage, again by his own admission, and he is a liar. These are simply the facts.
Anonymous at 1:07,
By their own admission, the leadership of BLM states they are Marxists, a movement no Catholic may support. They are the Democrat Party’s stormtroopers which should cause the sentient to pause before voting for that Party.
Did you wax this eloquent about Bill Clinton’s infidelities? If not, you are a mega hypocrite
Biden and most democratic leaders promote abortion as a human health right for women. An intrinsic evil is portrayed by them as morally good. I have no words to describe how troubling I find this.
May Our Lady protect Fr. Altman under Her powerful mantle, for he, and his Bishop, will probably be the targets of the evil one. Why? Because Fr. Altman is a true man of God. He speaks the truth - while other clergy are cowering in the corner or bowing down to man and licking their boots. Our Lady warned us. We are here. God be with us. Deus Vult!
Responding to Anonymous' statement concerning the First Lady openly living with Trump as her husband, even though he may not be in the eyes of God...that statement is an assumption. We do not know if Trumps' previous marriages have been annulled, or perhaps the marriages are in the process of annulment. It could also be a possibility that the previous marriages have been annulled and the current marriage has been convalidated. Perhaps that has been kept secret. One cannot simply make the assumption that the POTUS and the First Lady are committing mortal sin. It is possible that they are not. Our Lady was married to St. Joseph and lived a chaste life. Although the President and Melania share a child, the chastity may have come after the birth of their child. Speaking from experience here, practicing continence within marriage may be rare, but it does exist.
"We do not know if Trumps' previous marriages have been annulled, or perhaps the marriages are in the process of annulment."
We do. They haven't.
It is not necessary to "assume" sin in regards to the Trumps. It is plain, and neither of them seem to care. He assuredly does not.
Anonymous at 1:07,
You are just like Mark Thomas, avoiding statements you can’t refute, typical hypocrite
"NtB - First, I don't have to explain anything to you."
I didn't say you had to, only that you can try and explain to me if you choose to do so.
For myself, I expect more from Catholic politicians in the positions and policies they publically espouse and promote and would implement if given the chance, especially if what they propose is diametrically opposed to Church teaching.
Xi Jinping, the current leader of China has been divorced once, but has been married to his current wife for 33 years.
Xi was described in a 2011 The Washington Post article by those who know him as "pragmatic, serious, cautious, hard-working, down to earth and low-key". He was described as a good hand at problem solving and "seemingly uninterested in the trappings of high office". [Richburg, Keith B. (15 August 2011). "Xi Jinping, likely China's next leader, called pragmatic, low-key". The Washington Post.]
He also likes playing soccer, mountain climbing, walking, volleyball, and swimming. A rather nice all around guy, someone who in his personal life is a much better person than our current President. So what?
Between the two (if that was the choice) who would you vote for?
Again, I vote first on policy and what a person does (or would do) once in power.
Politics should not be viewed as a personal morality beauty contest.
Anon, whoever you are, find me the perfect man, please, since we know nothing of you I guess you qualify. This is silly, find me the perfect man in the bible or in church history, few and far between, but then you would know, wouldn't you. I didn't vote for trump for his marriages or infidelities, but for what he is trying to do. The trouble is the left in this country has gone straight down the hole so to speak, the day that killing the innocent, including infanticide, praising Planned Butcherhood and celebrating the perverse is ok let me know, or do you think it is? Racist, really give me a good example, he has done more for blacks in this country that most, it is called JOBS, unless you believe it is racist to cut unemployment, to give a person some sense of responsibility, a sense of self worth is wrong. Or is it the fact that he correctly referred to MS13 as animals, He has more blacks and women in his cabinet and in the white house than anyone in recent memory. In fact I'm sure Richard Grenell rings a bell, unless of course the fact that he works for Trump is a disqualifier? You really need to check your hatred; it will rot you from the inside out. If the qualifications for president are that you and your family have enriched yourselves while in office by shady means, well blithering Biden is your man, not to mention heels up Harris, Willie Brown’s "mattress" (browns quote not mine), waiting for you condemnation of them,,,,, well??? Or are they of the "correct" PARTY, make a choice
Sophia here:
This was a delightful read! No one here fell for the bait Anonymous @ 7:23, 7;49, 8:59, and 1:07 set. He was using the typical playbook of those coming from an ideological perspective (Marxists for eg) who are intent on one thing and one thing only-achieving an end by any means possible. He is rabidly intent on helping the pro-death Party win in November so he wants to convince us who are coming from a moral point of view to turn away from the most pro-life candidate (not just in words but in deeds) ever. Therefore, although as you pointed out, he likely had no problem voting for Mr. Clinton who actually committed ongoing sexual sins (in the WH, mind you), he feigns outrage that Catholics would vote for President Trump because he knows we do not approve of the President's past behavior. The Democrats are very good at using our moral code against us because we still believe in an objective moral code and therefore can be manipulated-but not this time! The contrast is too stark-past sexual sins are not morally equivalent to past, present and future child sacrifice, Physician Assisted suicide, embryonic stem and fetal cell research, gay marriage, transgender policies , restrictions on Religious Freedom-not even close!!!
Anonymous at 1:07 PM, to Father McDonald..."Fr. Altman mentions nothing about political platforms - that is the Straw Man you have inserted in order to avoid speaking to Trump's sins."
I appreciate Father McDonald's rejection of the Democratic Party.
The Democratic Party overall, as compared to the Republican Party, is far more supportive of one Catholic Social Teaching after another.
However, in too ways (at least to me), including those noted by Father McDonald, the Democratic Party promotes the Culture of Death.
I refuse to support the Democratic Party.
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Anonymous' concerns about President Trump's character in regard to declining to vote for Mister Trump are valid, according to our bishops.
Example: The USCCB's "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility" teaches that Catholic voters "should take into account a candidate’s commitments, character, integrity, and ability to influence a given issue."
Said document also declares:
"Catholic voters should use the framework of Catholic social teaching to examine candidates’ positions on issues affecting human life and dignity as well as issues of justice and peace, and they should consider candidates’ integrity, philosophy, and performance.
"It is important for all citizens “to see beyond party politics, to analyze campaign rhetoric critically, and to choose their political leaders according to principle, not party affiliation or mere self-interest.”
Pax.
Mark Thomas
He fits the image columnists wrote years ago about the GOP---a party with lots of "angry, white males." If there is a humorous side to him, it must be well hidden....
And he speaks of the "climate change hoax." Golly, do they teach climate change in seminary? What exactly does this angry reverend know about that?
He denounces BLM as "Marxist." OK, and just how black is his diocese in Wisconsin? Maybe 5 percent? What exactly does he know about police abuse of blacks? What would he propose Trump do about this issue?
Oh yes, and we keep hearing how we have to elect Republicans to ban abortion. Hmmm---lets go back thru some Supreme Court decisions on abortion:
In 1973, Roe v. Wade "found" (of course dubiously) a right to abortion. Lets see, which party had a majority of the court appointees on that decision? No, it was not the Democrats.
In 1992, in Casey V. Planned Parenthood, the court declined to overturn Roe. There was only 1 Democrat on the court at that time---8 Republican appointees.
And earlier this summer, the court decided to overturn some Louisiana restriction. Again, care to guess which party had a majority of those appointees?
"In parties ye not trust!"
"It appears that you don't know what Jansenism is."
Well, in all fairness, we seem to live in an age that casts the mantle of heresy on anyone we disagree with. One could accuse the Holy Father of the same, as he likes to label Traditionalists as "Pelagians" when they are, in fact, quite the opposite.
And then there's the old canard about Lefebvre and his SSPX priests being "schismatics".
If anything, we see a lot of people using these terms to accuse others of what they themselves seem to believe.
"I didn't say you had to, only that you can try and explain to me if you choose to do so.":
I choose the candidate who I think is best suited for and best capable of carrying out the duties of the office to which he or she is elected.
"He denounces BLM as "Marxist." OK, and just how black is his diocese in Wisconsin? Maybe 5 percent? What exactly does he know about police abuse of blacks? What would he propose Trump do about this issue?"
BLM's website doesn't hide the fact that they are a Marxist organization. Father Altman has nothing to do with the racial makeup of his diocese in Wisconsin.
Police abuse of blacks? Police could use better training in dealing with certain situations.
For a different perspective however, click on the link below.
There’s no epidemic of racist police officers killing black Americans.
It's not just about the Supreme Court, where Republican justices have shown to be more independent than expected in their opinions and decisions. No, it is also about such things as the Mexico city policy. Pro-lifers have realistically accepted that the Pro- life campaign would be a long and protracted slog where battles would be won moreso at the local and state level. This does not mean we will not also support congressional and Presidential candidates who align with our views on the issue with the hope we can win some battles nationally. Hope is always with us.
Come join our movement.
Even Cardinal Dolan who is far from conservative said that the Democrats have abandoned Catholics. He said that two (?) years ago. When asked why he didn’t say a prayer at the DNC like he did at the RNC, he said “ I would have but they didn’t ask me.” Government agencies in democratic (hello Albany) regions are stacked with liberal progressive catholics. The government can be a gravy train to those that succumb to its views: CRS, Catholic School and university. They are bribing with more than zero taxes.
Anonymous at 8:59
That Hmmmm sounds like a Father Fox Hmmmmmmm
Romulus Augustus here, I must say without a doubt the BRAVEST MAN and PRIEST in the United States he is putting his whole life on the line here for ALL of us. And as Bishop Strickland of Tyler Texas said,"My shame is that it has taken me so long"!! My God a priest who finally has spoken as a priest should speak to save his flock from the fires of Hell. And Father Altman will be persecuted we all know it's coming and so does he as, well as Bishop Strickland. Pray for these two brave and holy men of The Church for they will need all of us to pray for their safety.
"We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe,
by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are,
but by showing them a light that is so lovely
that they want to know with all their hearts the source of it."
- Madeleine L'Engle
Agreed but here we are talking about the so called crude expressions of biblical prophecy and prophets and how this priest fits into this crudeness which is biblical.
Are you comparing Fr. Altman with Biblical prophets? If so, in what sense?
And what "crudeness" of the prophets are you referring to?
Do your homework and report back to us. The internet should help you with your assignment.
Fr. Altman wants to make people afraid. He knows that people who are afraid are more easily manipulated and make choices based on what they fear rather than on what they know.
His choice of the second movement - allegretto - from Beethoven's 7th symphony is designed to give an ominous feel to the visually dark video presentation.
Be afraid. When you are afraid you can be manipulated. With the pulsing music, the dark setting, Altman talks about "godless" politicians and our "godless" education system. It's all part of the Altmanian crescendo.
He complains that bishops control priests through a "conspiracy of fear," but then goes to great lengths in an attempt to make people afraid in order to get them to act as he wants.
His hyperbole is exposed most completely when he says the Democratic platform is "against everything the Catholic Church teaches. He failed to do his research on this one. It includes increasing wages for the underpaid “essential” workers whose importance we have come to recognize in this pandemic, protecting the privacy of online personal data, strengthening Social Security, supporting freedom of the press, increasing the quality of our K-12 education, and the strengthening our alliances with other nations that will enable the world community to be able to respond more quickly and more effectively to the threat of pandemic?
Contrary to Catholic teaching? How?
We are choosing a president for our country, not the leader of the Pro-Life movement. The qualifications of that candidate must go far, far beyond claiming to be "pro-life."
Ah well, another failure on your part.
"Home » News » US
La Crosse bishop to correct ‘Catholics can’t be Democrats’ priest"
Well, color me NOT SURPRISED.
“Canonical penalties are not far away if my attempts at fraternal correction do not work. I pray that Fr. Altman’s heart and eyes might be open to the error of his ways and that he might take steps to correct his behavior and heal the wound he has inflicted on the Body of Christ,” said Bishop William Patrick Callahan.
I have post the news story about this on another post and the dueling bishops. We have to keep in mind that priests, diocesan priest in particular, are not in private practice and free to do whatever they wish. They must respect their bishop to whom they have promised at ordination "respect and obedience."
I agree with this priest and his castigation of the Democrat party. However, I feel it would be best to call Catholic Democrats to disavow this party's abortion and euthanasia platforms.
And yes, local bishops of Catholic democrat politicians who are rabidly pro-choice, lie Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, should sanction these candidates for their non-Catholic support of abortion. They should not be allowed to used their Catholic Faith to gain votes or to say they are in full communion with the Church despite their pro-choice advocacy. They should have a censure placed against them, meaning they are not allowed to receive Holy Communion.
1. We do not have "dueling bishops." That is more hyperbole, not at the level of Fr. Altman, but hyperbole nonetheless.
2. You can agree with anyone you like, but that doesn't mean Altman's words or approach are correct. It certainly does not mean they are binding on anyone.
3. To impose Canon 915 "Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion." a bishop MUST have a well-grounded hope that such imposition will result in a change in the behavior of the person sanctioned. Absent that, there can be no imposition.
"It would make me, a faithful Catholic," feel better is Canon 915 were imposed" is wholly insufficient.
Anonymous at 3:00 pm:
Nope, not this fox. I don't post anonymously on this site, ever.
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