Posted on 07/27/2013 6:09:40 AM PDT by NYer
Ping!
There are practicing Catholics and there’s the rest of ‘em. The ones that frequent church are usually pro life.
Most of the sheep go where the shepherd leads them. If the shepherd stops doing his job and lets them wander away, then they will wander away.
Considering that far too many self-professed “Christians”, regardless of denomination, are too lazy study and actually APPLY God’s Word, they need their religious leadership (aka clergy/pastors/preachers) to tell them the truth.
Too many of the aforementioned leaders won’t touch abortion - and indeed run from even the mention of it because it is “decisive”.
Hello - why is it divisive? Because we haven’t spoken up the truth. I can speak to this because I am a pastor. I know the anxiety that comes when the Lord leads me to speak on those “divisive” issues. But the truth is the truth, and when we avoid an issue simply because it is “divisive”, its no wonder that 50+% of self-identified “Catholics” support unrestricted abortion. And it is no wonder that many in other lines of Christianity also are weak on abortion.
So - if you couldn’t tell - I don’t necessarily buy into the article linked.
The Catholic Church and it faithful member have been at the forefront in the battle to preserve life. I thank them for their efforts. Without them our nation would be far worse off.
Amen! You nailed it Pastor.
Most of these “catholics” who support abortion aren’t Catholic but had parents who were and left the Church a long time ago.
I disagree with you. There are many “Catholics” who don’t attend church and do what they want. It’s impossible for the clergy to reach them.
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:6-7
How do you explain bishops who continue to allow pro-abortion candidates to receive communion then? Or the fact that the USCCB continues to help support pro-abortion agencies?
Actions speak louder than words.
Abortion approval is just the end of the line that starts with shacking up and hooking up. Preaching just can’t start and end with abortion.
I disagree. If there is any justice the lack of public discipline for public Catholics who support and promote abortion publicly will be looked back at as a scandal that dwarfs the homosexualist priest scandal.
Any sane 1st grade teacher knows you can’t teach without actual public discipline. Look back at the last 40-50 years. Have the bishops taught that abortion is really a big deal like they say it is or have they given the impression that despite what they say it must not be too big a deal when you get right down to it?
Freegards, thanks for all the pings
"But he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required: and to whom they have committed much, of him they will demand the more." Luke 12:48
Why exactly do we trust ABC + the WA Post?
I don’t particularly agree with this author.
I think he would do well to review some of the writings of previous popes, such as Pascendi Dominici Gregis and Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae.
In the former, St Pius X speaks of how modernism reduced faith down to feelings: “vital immanence”. In the latter, Leo XIII warned the American bishops about compromising the faith to better “fit in” the culture. Both of those things have had disastrous results in the past centuries.
While I think of it, the author should also consider Gregory XVI’s Mirari Vos, where he speaks of the danger of religious indifferentism.
While it is true that it would be unjust to lay all of the blame on the hierarchy for not preaching constantly about moral depravity, there are plenty of areas where they are far from innocent.
For example, in Singulari Quadam, Pope St Pius X warned the bishops that it is their job to ensure that the Faithful are not led astray by labor movements that espouse positions contrary to Church teaching. This was re-emphasized by Pius XI in Quadragesimo Anno and, more recently, was hammered on by Pope Bl. John Paul II in Laborem Exercens (in the latter, the Holy Father explicitly warned about labor unions getting in bed with political parties).
But, yet, when in the past 100 years, has there ever been a warning from an American bishop about activities about labor unions (especially the radically pro-homosexual, pro-abortion NEA)? Hmmmmmm???
We know from the Scriptures (and, yes, my Protestant Friends, the Church does believe in Sacred Scripture), we know that we are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. We know that a little leaven corrupts the whole lump...
But yet we have things like Catholic Charities...which, for all the good they do, have allowed themselves to become an arm of the Democratic Party. We have CRS, which, for all the good it does, gets in bed with pro-contraception and pro-abortion secular relief agencies. We have CCHD...which is nothing but Saul Alinsky community organizing.
And when members of the laity ask for change...the American hierarchy goes into full defense mode.
So even if the hierarchy manages, occasionally, to preach the right words, those words are betrayed by their actions.
These dissenters are responsible for their own actions, don’t get me wrong, but to attempt to cover up the role (in both word and deed) that the hierarchy played in these folks’ improper formation...that just is laughable.
Shhhhhh! That’s one of the mainstream media’s best kept secrets. Liberal reporters often quote lapsed or practically-lapsed Catholics to prove that the “ultra-conservative” Pope or bishops are “out of touch” with their flock. The media loves CINOs.
The floor of hell is paved with the skulls of bishops. St. Athanasius
The road to hell is paved with the skulls of erring priests, with bishops as their signposts. St. John Chrysostom
I'm going to disagree with the portions not stricken. The Catholic church has constantly and consistently behaved as though it doesn't have authority (in my lifetime), specifically with respect to disciplining people in political leadership positions: Nancy Pelosi, a huge number of the Kennedys , and more. Yet what has the Catholic church done to punish these political elite? Nothing. Certainly nothing that would cause them *gasp* discomfort.
I'm one of those people; I love the religion but I hate the church. It comes from a childhood of observing parish priests who acted like they were the people that Jesus chased from the temple with a scourge.
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