Crux has these two titles side by side in today’s edition. Now don’t get me wrong, I understand the Church has to work with political leaders that do not embrace everything that the Catholic Church teaches in the areas of morality. And certainly Mussolini and Hitler might both have had some common ground with what the Catholic Church holds important on one or two issues, but....
Biden can be supported by Catholics on what he promotes that is consistent with what the Church teaches, but his promotion of abortion, euthanasia, and gender ideology deserves sanctions, such as, do not receive Holy Communion when you attend Mass. But certainly keep dialogue open with him on that which he upholds that is consistent with Church teaching, but since he is a Catholic, call him to repentance on abortion, euthanasia and gender ideology promotion and national and international enablement of these mortal sins. Dialogue with him on repentance while withholding communion from him until there are clear signs of repentance. Isn’t that one of the prophetic roles of bishops and priests who are their delegates????
Those in Spain advocating for burning priests to death (not too different than abortion) must have other things in common with what the Church teaches despite their chilling advocacy for burning priests. Biden advocates for abortion, is that not even more chilling????????
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19 comments:
I agree with you Father, but Cardinals Dolan and Gregory, among others, do not.They were both made bishops by Pope John Paul II, moved along by Pope Benedict and Pope Francis. So, what is the Church's teaching? This is why the "faithful" are all over the place on these issues.
Do you think that Pope Francis and his Jesuit assistant actively campaigned for Biden. Do you think he used papal throne to influence an election? Do you think his priests used their pulpits to do the same. The election did have a lot to do with South America, his former residence. A lot of liberal, progressive Democrats are making sure people know that they are Catholics. CRS and other “Catholic” charities depend on funding from the US government. They, “the Church” had a strong interest in the outcome of this election. They, progressive Democrats, have a strong interest in changing Church teachings. Do you think there was collusion between these two groups to influence this election? Perhaps Russian collusion wasn’t the real story.
I agree with you and it is a damn mess, especially for those of us on the front lines. I think sanctions about Holy Communion should normally be made by the individual, i.e. if you are in a state of mortal sin, do not present yourself for Holy Communion.
But if a Catholic is a public sinner, or in a second marriage, etc, it would seem that they would have the good will not to present themselves for Holy Communion. I have told parishioners in the past who entered a second "marriage" while the first was still presumed to be the life long one, not to receive Holy Communion and they abided.
With Biden and other high ranking Catholic political figures, Nancy Pelosi comes to mind, I think their bishops should work privately with them and try to get them to stop receiving Holy Communion and demand that they not use their faith to promote their sinful positions. If they don't comply, they should publicly be told not to receive Holy Communion and any priest or EMHC should be told not to offer Holy Communion to them.
This willingness to embrace the sin and the sinner without any "restrictions" on Holy Communion is very puzzling to me and in fits in very well with how a McCarrick go prosper so long in his position, how the sex abuse scandal is the explosion it is. It all hinges on the dereliction of duty of bishops to prevent real scandal not to high scandal and pretend it doesn't exist.
a @ 9:39, I am not into conspiracy theories but for many people, no matter what faith they profess, their political affiliations and platforms are their true love and worship. It is idolatry.
The Church has a right to lobby and influence the public square and no political party is 100% pure in terms of Catholic moral teachings. I think many bishops to include the pope did not like Trump's narcissism, name calling and cultivating the cult of the personality. Mussolini won many Italians over by his character and likability. If you watch some of his speeches it reminds you of Trump's ability to get the crowds going and Hitler too. So I am caution of these kinds of people in high places.
Even better is an article on Stream which contends that allowing the Democrats to steal this election IS appeasement:
https://stream.org/letting-the-democrats-steal-this-election-is-real-appeasement/
It is interesting how some will insist on receiving Eucharist when their lives are not in agreement with Catholic doctrine, and then prohibit others from receiving the same because that is what the scientists say. Fr. Martin is well known on Twitter, it probably made him the most well known Catholic priest in America. If Fr. McDonald was to post his blog in Twitter format, he would likely be banned. His teachings go against the main stream dogma. One approach to the problem of of folks like Biden receiving is to ask them to cease or change. The other is for Biden to ask the Church to change. From the pew where I sit, I see the later happening.
Appeasement and a total lack of leadership. Chamberlain, Gregory....same same
The real appeasement is the many Church leaders and "faithful" who coddled Trump and played footsie with fascism over the past four years. No wonder people lose faith in the Church when its leaders enable treason, racism, mendacity, corruption and more.
Coach Kavanaugh,
You are confusing President Trump with Obama who attacked the Little Sisters of the Poor! Obama was the real fascist. Do your parishioners a favor, resign and join the Episcopal “Church.” Also comment on how President Trump was the first president since Carter who did not start any foreign wars
There are any number of leaders throughout history that questionable personal lives and yet came through in times of crisis and did the right thing. Even the Almighty made use of them, David, Cyrus, Charles Martel, etc. On the other hand we can certainly cite many who put on a public show of sincerity, honesty and caring who, on closer examination, were simply about the acquisition of power and it use for malevolent purposes.
We have had a number of Presidents who had character flaws:Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton are three recent examples that come to mind.
President Johnson was a crude and vulgar man given to exercise his authority and power in a very imperious manner. Nixon and Clinton had their own numerous issues. In reading the comments of those who hold Mr. Trump in disdain, one can get the idea that no worse person has ever occupied the office of the President. Maybe that is not the case in what they are saying about him, but if it is, it is certainly unfair.
While COVID is the thing that did damage to the re-election chances of President Trump, in the case of Johnson, it was the Vietnam war. It is certainly true that both of them had their accomplishments.
With President Trump what you see is what you get. You might not like what you see, but it is what you get. Not so much with professional politicians.
When you spend millions to run for president, twice, you're a professional politician. If I hire you to fix the wiring in my house and you burn it down, "I'm not a professional electrician" isn't really a defense, is it? Do your job.
By the way, people who insist on calling me Kavanaugh probably shouldn't both trying to figure out more complex matters of state, should they?
“With President Trump what you see is what you get. You might not like what you see, but it is what you get”
The problem is that people see different things. Take the election, for example. Some see a sitting President who is being cheated of a landslide victory. Others see a sitting President who is gaslighting the country as he has done for four years–a loser who has only ever been able to win in life by cheating (even when playing golf (see https://www.amazon.com/Commander-Cheat-Golf-Explains-Trump/dp/0316528080) and who is trying to do the same thing with the election by accusing the other side of cheating.
How do we resolve such differences in perception and narratives? I know of only one way—through a common commitment to facts, truth, and evidence tested, if necessary, in the courts. The following is suggestive:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/11/17/fact-check-2020-election-whats-true-and-whats-false/6266732002/
Are we still capable of committing to facts, truth, and evidence? Or have we already lost the Republic?
Serial adultery and self-admitted fornication are not a "character flaw."
The list of deficits in Trump, the worst president in our country's history, is long.
At least the other flawed fellows in the office knew that they should at least simulate rectitude. Trump, being of no character, doesn't see the need for even that. He is openly contemptuous of every virtue.
If Trump performed an abortion on Park Avenue in broad daylight, Father McDonald would call it a quirky personality flaw.
I see that Trump is still attempting a coup, or at least for whatever malevolent reasons may be motivating him, wants to appear as if he is:
https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-says-he-wont-leave-white-house-biden-disproves-fraud-2020-11
“In a Friday tweet filled with conspiracy theories and lies, President Donald Trump implied he would not allow President-elect Joe Biden to take office — which he does not have the power to do — unless Biden proves his election win was not fraudulent.
“Biden can only enter the White House as President if he can prove that his ridiculous '80,000,000 votes' were not fraudulently or illegally obtained. When you see what happened in Detroit, Atlanta, Philadelphia & Milwaukee, massive voter fraud, he's got a big unsolvable problem!” Trump tweeted, baselessly alleging election fraud and malfeasance in four heavily Black cities in states that voted for Biden.”
Trump has no understanding of, or respect for, the rule of law and no respect for facts, truth, and evidence. No wonder his niece called him the most dangerous man alive. Remember, Mussolini and Hitler were both elected to office before they staged their coups. We have been warned.
And yes, I would say precisely the same thing if Trump were a Democrat. This is not about partisan politics; it is about saving the Republic itself.
The first four words of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration speech should be, "Well, that was weird."
"At least the other flawed fellows in the office knew that they should at least simulate rectitude."
Back then, the media did not bring things out in the open. It was years before I learned what kind of person LBJ was.
Anonymous said...
"Serial adultery and self-admitted fornication are not a "character flaw." "
Ah, yes...William Jefferson Clinton. Thank you. And from what I've read, LBJ as well?
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