On a blog like mine, people can respond with their comments when I instigate religious or political commentary. That is not the case with a homily. A homily should not castigate fellow Catholics by name even the President of the USA.
This seems to be a good and balanced newscast by ABC about the controversy that President Biden has created by be the most vociferous pro-abortion, pro choice Catholic President. He is clearly opposed to Vatican II’s Magisterium on abortion and infanticide of which Pope Francis says about Vatican II's magisterium we should not allow any concessions for rejecting this Magisterium and this presumably applies to the president of the USA too.
One of the priests during his homily castigates the president for the good parts of his Catholic Faith, like going to Mass. He should have thanked God for that part of Biden's faith and perhaps show the disconnect between his faith of "comfort and solace" and the prophetic teachings of the Church concerning Social justice for the innocent unborn children and those who have no voice. He could have thanks Biden for his other social justice initiatives fully in accord with Catholic social teaching.
But the scenes in this news story of priests at Mass castigating the president in angry voice are not good. That would be better on a blog or in a classroom setting where others can respond.
What say you?
23 comments:
Didn't Blessed Cardinal Von Galen arrange for a public denunciation of Nazism from the pulpit across Germany? Did the denunciation MENTION HITLER BY NAME?
Just curious.
But I have to agree on one thing--the Mass is an event unto itself and applause for famous people just distracts us with vainglorious emptiness.
If the bishop asked priests to talk about Biden's anti-Vatican II Magisterium views as it concerns his support of abortion and infanticide which included some talking points, that would be a different story.
But we need to be careful not to compare Biden to Hitler who was a maniacal despot and dictator with murderous, pathological dreams that led to the reality of 6 million Jews being killed and 6 million others mostly Christian/Catholic being killed for being gypsies or damaged in some way or another.
"social justice initiatives?" Like ordering that a biological male can participate in female sports? Shutting down the pipeline throwing thousands of union workers out of work to satisfy the environmental weirdos in Hollywood?
Social justice begins with the right to be born once you are in the womb.
Social justice is based upon the Magisterium of the Church. The examples you use are not those teachings. There are no concessions shown to those who reject the authentic magisterium of the Church and go out of control like the bishops and laity who left the Church's authentic magisterium after Vatican I. They ordain women today as Pope Francis pointed out.
Thus, the social issues that Biden supports that are in harmony with the authentic magisterium of the Church should be praised. No Catholic should excoriate another Catholic for their authentic social justice initiative based in the authentic magisterium of the Church.
Please give an example of Biden’s social justice policies that align with the Magisterium because frankly I don’t see evidence of them
I much prefer a priest or bishop who regularly points out assorted sins and is brave enough to tell own parishoners to abstain from Holy Communion until right with God via true repentance, penance and absolution.
Most will not, as parishoners then burn up the hotline to the local bishop about their meanie priest.
I also much prefer a priest pointing out Catholic teaching on various issues, by way of helping create informed Catholic consciences of voters, but most priests and bishops dodge that as well and for same reasons.
And, have never seen such before, especially in application to wealthier parishoners, but would love to see known public sinners at the local level denied Holy Communion, before moving on to national public figures. But generally, money does all the talking in those local instances, and has since at least Paul's time.
Among others:
Strengthening America’s Commitment to Justice (You kow, that "justice" thing that too many, Catholics included, understand as having to do with crimes and criminals, and courts, but really applies to just about any human interaction.)
He will direct the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to take steps necessary to redress racially discriminatory federal housing policies that have contributed to wealth inequality for generations.
The President will sign an Executive Order to end the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) use of private prisons.
He will recommit the federal government to respect Tribal sovereignty and strengthen the Nation-to-Nation relationship between the United States and Tribal Nations.
And, President Biden will take action to combat xenophobia against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
President Biden will sign a Presidential Memorandum “Redressing Our Nation’s and the Federal Government’s History of Discriminatory Housing Practices and Policies.”
If, frankly, you don't see evidence of them, then you are either blind or willfully ignorant.
Of course the Church's social justice teachings for the most part are principles and they aren't dogmatic or even doctrinal, except of course for prohibition against killing innocent children in the womb before they are born or infanticide. These two are indeed infallible teachings.
The specifics of applying general principles in the political realm can be and must be debated. So while general Christian and Jewish principles are enunciated the specifics are not necessarily a one size fits all Catholic approach.
Of course, as Pope Francis has stated, Biden's rejection of the Magisterium of Vatican II as it concerns abortion and infanticide should be called out in the loudest terms and even a censure against him from receiving Holy Communion. But only his bishop can make that judgment call.
And of course, Catholics who are more Democrat than Catholic must be careful in their canonization process of the president. Just because a Catholic does all these good things in continuity with the Church's social justice tradition, but either sexually molests children or promotes abortion and infanticide, all three of which are grave evils crying to God for justice, that person should not be canonized and in fact should be canceled.
As for addressing xenophobia regarding Asians, you mean by example the DOJ now dropping descrimination suits against ivy league schools who regularly descriminate against harder working Asian students who score better on tests?
THAT kind of social justice, so that more fake Cherokee princesses can be admitted, as well as fake men and women who are oppressed because folk note they are fake/hormonally treated/surgically butchered/altered so they can pretend they are what their genes say they are not? What pressing social justice issues, for sure.
I live in one of the Tribal Nations, the ones who collect money from the casinos and disburse to all their members, and the vast majority of the younger go to the schools, maybe graduate, and then stay home, collect their monthly card and live in their trailers and do drugs, depending on the tribe for transportation, health care, dental, etc.
Anonymous at 1:08
LOL - private prisons violate social justice? I guess then private schools do too.
President Trump did more to address racial injustice than his predecessor - his DOJ went after Harvard for discriminating against Asians which contradicts one of your talking points because Mr. Social Justice Biden's DOJ has dropped that suit) and did more for Black Universities and provided more job opportunity for Blacks than his predecessor did. All his predecessor did was enrich one Black, himself. I recall Harry Truman said politicians who get rich off of government service are crooks.
So epic fail
Right, anonymous @ 2:10
I haven't seen anything so far from the President where he will do anything about Asians who are discriminated against. Of course, they will do well at any school they attend but discrimination is discrimination.
Anonymous @ 1:08 PM
Strengthening America’s Commitment to Justice.(You mean like former President Trump's Criminal Justice reform?)
...discriminatory federal housing policies that have contributed to wealth inequality for generations. (provable correlation? Please provide.)
Archbishop welcomes Biden executive orders on environmental protection.
What good is a "conversational relationship" if it does not persuade or convert, so that a Catholic in a position of authority does not put in place policies which are in opposition to our Holy Faith, and which fundamentally contradict what we are required to hold as true and binding, and deeply offend God?
We who hold to the teachings of our Faith now watch in dismay as one of our own, in the position of highest leadership, with his pen violates so appallingly God's law and so gives grave scandal.
The commentator in the video opines that "Catholic values are not exclusively red or blue". Which of the Commandments can be obeyed and which can be ignored?
Does not God tell us through the inspired, holy, and infallible writing of His apostle that , "whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it."?
God has given man, both within and without the Church, dominion and authority over others, and this responsibility.is to be exercised with due respect to His Divine law, in all matters pertaining to it.
What person when in a position of authority has the responsibility to see that a law is obeyed, but has not the will nor the means to enforce it? Would it not be expected that such a person then be ignored and ridiculed?
Or what good parent instructs a child in proper behavior but imposes no discipline if they are disobeyed? Can they not expect that the child will continue in his or her ways and that such continued behavior can lead to serious harm?
And so is this where those in leadership in our Church find themselves today, even if there are some who are willing to act and impose discipline, since there are those who would not concur, and so negate or render ineffective whatever action was taken. Our own effective response is much prayer,sacrifice and reparation for all our shepherds, good, bad and indifferent, since this is the one good way to bring about the change that is so sorely needed. And we should do the same for Catholics and others in public office.
What our country and Church are faced with should not occasion discouragement,resignation, or vitriol on our part, nor should we attack others, but we should accept the challenge placed before us to do what God expects of us by "fighting the good fight" with the weapons of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving by availing ourselves of the plenitude of graces provided through our Holy Catholic church.
Father McDonald,
Environmental protection? We have state and federal environmental protection laws so it's just some puffery to keep the Hollywood weirdos happy. Too bad "environmental protection" does not extend to the womb who will never know the joys of Biden's environmental orders.
Here's some facts about Biden you may want to consider before you get all misty eyed over his social justice positions:
The only major white nationalist in office is Joe Biden. He's an unrepentant supporter of the Confederacy, and brags that Delaware was a slave state. He accepted an award from George Wallace, said a KKK Grand Kleagle [Robert Byrd] was his mentor, and led the fight against school busing. He said de-segregating schools would create a "racial jungle" where his white kids wouldn't be safe.
Social Justice teaching "not dogmatic," eh...?
Social Justice Principles:
Life and Dignity of the Human Person "The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching."
Call to Family, Community, and Participation "Marriage and the family are the central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable."
Rights and Responsibilities "The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency." Also "Justice is the steady and lasting willingness to give to others what they are entitled to (their right: jus [or ius] suum). Aquinas works with this Roman Law definition (ST II-II q. 58 a. 1c)"
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable "A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring." Whatsoever you do to the least...
The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers " If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected--the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative."
Solidarity "At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace."
Care for God's Creation "We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith."
Re: Asians - "Biden directive combats racism against Asian Americans amid COVID-19 pandemic
The Asian American community faced a rise in hate crimes during the pandemic."
"Today, I'm directing federal agencies to combat the resurgence of xenophobia, particularly against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, that we've seen skyrocket during this pandemic. This is unacceptable and it's un-American," Biden said in remarks at the White House."
Re: Housing Discrimination and Poverty
Housing discrimination and urban poverty of African-Americans
GC Galster, JH Carr - Journal of Housing Research, 1991 - JSTOR
BOOK] Closed doors, opportunities lost: The continuing costs of housing discrimination
J Yinger - 1995 - books.google.com
Poverty, inequality, and discrimination as sources of depression among US women
D Belle, J Doucet - Psychology of Women Quarterly, 2003 - journals.sagepub.com
Recent research on racial segregation and poverty concentration in public housing in the United States
J Goering, A Kamely, T Richardson - Urban Affairs Review, 1997 - journals.sagepub.com
There are MANY research articles that demonstrate the causal connection.
I have had several people ask me what I think about Biden being “Catholic” and promoting abortion. While I totally disagree with his beliefs, I think instead of bashing him publicly, we should pray for him. Although I am guilty of judging him harshly! 😬
Anonymous @ 5:02 PM
I think it is good as well to look at those who have made it out of such conditions and done well, such as Dr.Ben Carson and many others. Since he was head of HUD, it would be interesting to hear his perspective. Studies you mention don't always tell the whole story. There is a CEO of a medical facility nearby where I live who attended a well-respected university and grew up in public housing. So these studies paint with a broad brush but end up missing some glaring spots. Avoidance of the social pathologies such as drug use and fathering children out of wedlock is something that contributes to those that make something of themselves. A stable family situation is crucial.
All of this bickering is meaningless.
Our government is utterly corrupted and perverted and no one with the power to change anything cares a whit about what people like us think.
Our Church has fallen into rank apostasy and we have no solid leadership, save a few good bishops and priests and nobody with the power to do anything care a whit about what people like us think.
You guys can spin all your "gotchas" at each other until your knuckles freeze, but it isn't going to change anything. We are a lost, doomed nation and Church and the only hope we have is Jesus Christ, because the people we trusted to lead us have abandoned us.
They have other priorities.
The priest would be right to discuss Catholic teaching as it relates to public policy without characterizing individuals who support those policies. However, President Biden has publicly challenged Church teaching and the magisterium by public communion whil officiating homosexual marriages and forcing citizens to fund abortion. He has placed himself in the pulpit and should be corrected publicly for the good of all, especially himself.
Supporting a popular position does not offset the responsibility for supporting a bad one. There is no moral algebra that allows a balance sheet to permit a sin.
Anonymous at 4:57,
Then how do you reconcile Biden’s words with actions like his DOJ dropping the discrimination lawsuit for the benefit of Asian students against Harvard? Or are you going to ape Mark Thomas and ignore inconvenient facts?
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