Faith and Patriotism (Archbishop Chaput spells it out!)

New York Times ^ | 10/22/2004 | CHARLES J. CHAPUT

[Rutles4Ever]

Amen.

[AmericanChef]

Beautifully put.

[TonyInOhio]

If only all of our shepherds were as strong.

[pgkdan]

Lawmaking inevitably involves some group imposing its beliefs on the rest of us. That's the nature of the democratic process. If we say that we "ought" to do something, we are making a moral judgment.

Amen indeed! Secular humanists are all about imposing their beliefs on society. Their 'oughts' are automatically elevated to RIGHTS simply because they proclaim them as such. They have been extremely aggressive and vocal about that. I'm heartened and happy to the see the good Archbishop fighting back.

[Mamzelle]

I beg to differ. It was defensive and wordy--and a lost opportunity to counter Dowd's bigoted anti-Catholic column.

[chatham]

While I agree with Bishop Chaput I find it confusing to hear the rest of his Brother Bishops who are broadcasting mixed and varied signals all across America .

When I was a Young Boy, the Catholic Church taught that the church was One , Holy, Catholic (Universal) and Apostolic.

No Longer does the Church speak as One, it seems each Bishop sets the rules his way. They have also given up the moral high ground and have lost any credibility they ever had.

[Rutles4Ever]

This is the trouble we have to deal with and, remarkably, much like what Saint Paul had to rein in at the nascent stages of Catholicism - feuding churches, selfish leadership, and mixed messages.

There is plenty of credibility in the Church - it resides with those who are not out there promoting heresy and accomodating the Lavender Mafia.

Take heart. At some point, the moneychangers will be driven from the Temple. God will not be mocked.

[paladinan]

[chatham]
> While I agree with Bishop Chaput I find it confusing to
> hear the rest of his Brother Bishops who are broadcasting
> mixed and varied signals all across America.

(*sigh*) Don't get me started...! :)

I know Archbishop Burke is needed more badly in St. Louis (where he can "whup-with-love" a greater number), but I really wish we could have him back, or get a few hundred more like him (and Bishop Sheridan) to relace the "gotta-be-free, gotta-be-me, I-love-the-rebellious-1960's-and-1970's" bishops scattered throughout out land.

[Dems_R_Losers]

I don't agree. This is a powerful statement being printed in the New York Times. I could hardly imagine this being printed four years ago. The Catholic leadership in America has had enough and is finally speaking out and refusing to be silenced by the false talk of "choice" and "separation of church and state." It is wonderful and encouraging. Any Catholic who reads this column - and I have no doubt that hundreds, if not thousands, of New Jersey Catholics will read it - knows that he or she has nowhere to hide if they vote for pro-abortion candidates anymore.

Who cares about what Maureen Dowd wrote? Her audience does not even go to church. The shrillness of her column is the best indicator yet that the godless people know they are losing the debate and losing this election. The more they caricature George W. Bush and scoff at God, the more they turn off religious voters and get them fired up for this election.

May I also say, as a fairly new Christian, that this column spoke to me. I have become more radically pro-life as I have gotten older. I may just end up a Catholic before long. And I will certainly never vote for a pro-abortion candidsate again. I just moved to Pennsylvania, and I am not voting for Arlen Specter.

[Valin]

Ping

[Tolik]

BTTT!

[wideawake]

All legislation is legislation of morality.

And the morality behind any piece of legislation derives from the moral philosophy of the legislators and their constituents.

The notion that only moral systems based on materialism are permitted to influence or direct legislation is unfair, silly and philosophically unsound.

[BlackElk]

You will be a welcome addition if your search brings you to Rome just as your increased militancy on abortion is appreciated by pro-lifers generally.

[NYer]

We see abortion as a matter of civil rights and human dignity, not simply as a matter of religious teaching. We are doubly unfaithful - both to our religious convictions and to our democratic responsibilities - if we fail to support the right to life of the unborn child. Our duties to social justice by no means end there. But they do always begin there, because the right to life is foundational.

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[Unam Sanctam]

Right on the money.

[ninenot]

Uhhhh--and priests. See my post of this evening on the Milwaukee priests' Association of limpwrists.

[ninenot]

Materialism is a 'morality,' too--and for practical purposes, it is the morality of the Libertarians.

[independentmind]

bttt