Posted on 02/19/2016 6:33:46 AM PST by shortstop
Maybe the pope should read the Catechism.
Or the Bible.
Both speak of the value of obeying the law, and both sanction those who judge the faith of another.
Yesterday, as he flew above America in his opulent jet, the supposed vicar of Christ said that those who build walls are not Christian. He said it in response to a question about Donald Trump and in reference to a Trump campaign proposal to build a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border.
If you want to build a wall, the pope said, you are not Christian.
Which must come as a surprise to the 51 percent of Americans who, in the most recent poll, believe that a wall along the Mexican border is a good idea. Presumably those people did not realize that their political belief stripped them, in the eyes of the pope, of their religious standing and doomed them to an eternity in hell.
But such is the gospel of Francis, the love pope.
Or Karl Marx, who seems often to be his master.
The irony of a man who lives in a walled city condemning a nation that seeks to put up a fence is obvious. But the characterization by that man of that country as selfish and unwelcoming is so patently false as to be purposefully deceptive. In the post-World War II era, the United States has welcomed more immigrants than all other countries combined. Each year, the United States welcomes more immigrants than any other nation.
Legal immigrants.
The United States, in fact, created and perfected open-door, pluralistic immigration. The United States is the most heterogeneous nation on Earth because of its long and welcoming history of immigration. Further, the United States provides more material and financial relief to impoverished and oppressed peoples in their home countries than all other nations combined.
The belief that the United States is bad or selfish is rooted in bigotry and prejudice, not reality and truth.
The American Republic believes in rule of law, and that is true of its attitudes towards immigration as well. America does not turn people away, it merely asks that they come legally.
For that, the pope has condemned the souls of half of Americans.
Even though the official teachings of his church -- the Catechism of the Catholic Church -- teach exactly the policy America practices.
In the Catechism, which was published at the direction of Saint John Paul II, the Catholic Church declares that prosperous nations have a moral obligation to welcome those who are fleeing oppression or seeking economic opportunity. But the Catechism then explains how that is to be done.
"Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens," paragraph two of Section 2241 reads.
The official teachings of the Catholic Church -- as opposed to the gratuitous condemnations of its leader -- say that governments have the moral right to "make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various (legal) conditions."
Further, the immigrants involved have a duty in regard to the nation they seek to enter, including the duty to "obey its laws."
That's legal immigration.
Not illegal immigration.
American immigration policy -- namely that one must come to our country in accordance with our law -- is exactly in step with the official teachings of the Catholic Church. A physical means to enforce the law -- a wall -- has no bearing upon that.
The pope was wrong in regard to the Catechism.
And he was wrong in regard to the Bible.
"God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge," wrote St. James. "He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?"
The pope, as leader of the Roman Catholic Church, can declare who is or is not Catholic. But he is in no way empowered by logic or God with the authority to declare who is or is not a Christian.
The days of the Inquisition have passed.
And the pope should not condemn men's souls because they do not share his leftist political views.
makes one wonder....who is this guy and what is his purpose? Why is he heading a religion he doesn't love and usually appears to disdain?
Yes, we were. The Holy Spirit was truly at work within them.
Good one.
"Isn't Catholicism completely based on the Pope basically being God's direct ambassador on earth [?]"
No, it is not. Catholicism is based on the flawless life, salvific death, and perfect teachings of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Catholicism existed even before there was a 'formal' papacy in Rome, and Catholicism would still exist if the Pope took a vow of silence and was never heard from again.
" [So] everything the Pope says becomes gospel, so to speak, and must be followed as if God said it? "
No, it is not.
I'm glad you brought that up because that is a very common but very mistaken idea of what papal infallibility is.
According to the Catholic Church, Papal infallibility has no positive content. I'm going to say that louder so everybody can hear it. Papal infallibility has no positive content.
It is entirely negative: it's not a matter of what the Pope can or does say, but of what he cannot say.
At no time is a pope an all-purpose oracle. It is NOT prophecy. It is NOT inspired the way Scripture is inspired. There is no guarantee that a pope will express moral/doctrinal concepts in a full, complete, clear, accurate and timely manner.
Some Catholics are disappointed that Papal infallibility is as narrow and limited as it is. Some crave that all-purpose prophecy/oracle stuff. But such is not the case. And a great many Catholics (and non-Catholics too) are glad to hear that the scope of infallibility is as narrow as it is.
So, what IS infallibility? Christ's guarantee that the Pope will not make an official declaration on faith and morals, ex cathedra, intended to be irreformable and binding on the conscience of the whole Church, that leads the Church into error. Why is this truly "Christ's" guarantee? Because when Christ founded the Church, He said "the gates of Hell will not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18)
This 2-minute video should raise a smile, and it actually does show how (historically) the gift of infallibility has worked out in practice. Fun Video (LINK) --- Go ahead and click the link, it's well worth your two minutes.
Heaven has walls and gates too.
“Yesterday, as he flew above America in his opulent jet...”
Idiot. It’s a regular jet loaned to the pope for his trips. It’s an ordinary Alitalia Airbus A320: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/the-pope/8005854/Pope-visit-what-is-on-board-the-Papal-plane.html
Amen, well written and well reasoned. A pleasure to read. History teaches that Popes come in various levels of competency like our Presidents.
No problem. Have a good weekend.
I wish he would read Luther’s catechism
I would like to see the pope walk down a street in Damascus.
“This is a serious question. Isn’t Catholicism completely based on the Pope basically being God’s direct ambassador on earth. And consequently everything the Pope says becomes gospel, so to speak, and must be followed as if God said it? It seems strange that Catholics pick and choose what words they want to follow that come out of the Pope’s mouth.”
When the Pope speaks foolishly no one has to listen. We respect the office but we have never said that everythig the Pope says must be followed.
No, no, and no.
The Pope is Christ's *vicar*, which means he's an administrator set up to "mind the store" in the the temporary absence of the Owner. In certain very narrow and specific circumstances, he's preserved from teaching heresy as truth.
That's about where it ends.
His offhand comments on matters not germane to the faith (e.g., his favorite soccer team's chances) have no more significance than do mine.
Catholicism is "completely based" on the person and work of Jesus Christ.
The Pope is doing just fine....he actually said that if you only build walls and not bridges, it is not Christian.....yes, he was referring to Trump, but his statements were applicable to everyone.
Trump attacked him first....he was responding.
No. the Pope is the Bishop of Rome and titular head of the Catholic church...CEO so to speak. While he is certainly highly educated, only when he speaks ex cathedra, from the chair of Peter, is he infallible. I disagree with him on the seriousness of global warming, He leans further to the left than I am comfortable with but he is from a socialist background.....The Pope is the vicar of Christ on Earth....he is in charge of Christianity in the absence of the founder. He cannot err in matter of faith and morals but who he favors in the election is his own business.
You can safely bet your last dollar that they didn't...it is much easier to spout off about something than it is to do a little research.
I knew that idiot comment wouldn't be far behind......sigh.
get real....pathetic.
That's a readers digest version of Christianity, add some, eliminate some, change rules as you see fit....real helpful.
Do a little research.
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