Posted on 09/02/2011 9:07:47 AM PDT by marshmallow
Minneapolis, Minnesota (CNN) –Prior to 2006, few people even knew that then-Minnesota state legislator Keith Ellison was a Muslim. Because of his English name, he said, no one thought to ask.
But five years ago, when he ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives - a race he would go on to win - word of his religious affiliation began to spread.
“When I started running for Congress it actually took me by surprise that so many people were fascinated with me being the first Muslim in Congress,” said Ellison, a Democrat now serving his third term in the House.
“But someone said to me, ‘Look Keith, think of a person of Japanese origin running for Congress six years after Pearl Harbor–this might be a news story.’”
Though Ellison's status as the first Muslim elected to Congress is widely known, fewer are aware that he was born into a Catholic family in Detroit and was brought up attending Catholic schools.
But he said he was never comfortable with that faith.
“I just felt it was ritual and dogma,” Ellison said. “Of course, that’s not the reality of Catholicism, but it’s the reality I lived. So I just kind of lost interest and stopped going to Mass unless I was required to.”
It wasn’t until he was a student at Wayne State University in Detroit when Ellison began, “looking for other things.”
(Excerpt) Read more at religion.blogs.cnn.com ...
Oh, I agree. However, it is not something to gloat over. We have lost a soul and I believe that it counts as a failure. I don't hold the Church responsible, perhaps certain individuals in it, but overall, a soul lost is still a soul lost.
I do not consider it a failure of the Church, but a failure of the individuals. The comfort I speak of is not that souls are lost, but that the Church remains the beacon of truth and light and facilitates a path to Salvation for those who seek it. I am comforted in knowing that the Church does not and will not compromise its message for the sake of headcount.
Overall, I agree, however, the fact is that the souls are lost. That is a sad thing, to be grieved.
Do you think it may have boiled over a bit when Ellison insisted on being sworn in over a Koran instead of a Bible?
Ping to post 11.
Ping to post 11.
Luke 6:27-36, 43-45
27"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
32 "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Maybe they never got around to reading that part of the Gospels in their mass.
That's only because you are apparently not not offended by virulent and vile anti-Catholicism.
"Don’t ever claim the love of Christ in your heart because we know better."
My posts are always interpreted exactly the way you want them to be, just like Scripture, to fit your preexisting prejudices. The post wasn't vile at all in either content or intent. I am saying that I am glad that the Church doesn't compromise it's Catechism, doctrines and dogmas to appease the evil and the malcontents. And, some I don't consider Christian, based upon the crackpot theology presented daily by some of those so-called Christians. Paulians, maybe, but not Christians.
I’m an exCatholic, and now an evangelical Christian. Am I failed as well?
Get thee behind me.
I did see that. Like I said in my post I read no further till I posted. Good on you by the way.
CB, the amount of hatred you appear to have for the Church doesn’t stop at wishing we would take in with smoochy love all those who denigrate us and criticize all of us. I stand with Natural Law, as you probably guessed. Thanks for all the kind, loving, Christian remarks you’ve sent my way, too.
Don’t every claim the love of Christ in YOUR heart, because we all know better. Thanks for setting us such a good example over the years.
Oh, you don't feel unconditionally loved by me so now I am Satan? Its pretty obvious from your posting history that you don't "feel the love" for Catholics and Catholicism, either.
Clearly you didn't. There are plenty of posts under YOUR name with some really crude and ugly remarks. Thanks to you for leaving the Church and setting everyone such a good example too.
The hypocrisy is stunning.
For the errors of the RCC? Yes, I hate error in teaching and will speak out against it at every opportunity. >> I stand with Natural Law<<
So you’re also happy when someone leaves the church? My, My!
>> Thanks for setting us such a good example over the years.<<
Over the years? Do you keep that good of track? ROFL Better check on how long I’ve been here. It’s best to do research before we speak it seems.
If we are......
Join the crowd.
Thanks, then, for all your many kindnesses, showing us Catholics how you live your faith. Much obliged, learned a lot from you.
The lost sheep, the lost coin, the prodigal son in Luke 15.
The Father does not rejoice in those who are lost, He actively seeks them and rejoices in finding them.
Since when did the shepherd kick the lost sheep while it was down and then walk away and abandon it.
I sure hope there are more Catholics who are seeing why some of us have left the Catholic church and have no desire to return.
What use is a religion that doesn’t result in a changed heart and mind towards others? Whatever happened to showing their faith by their works? Or is that just relegated to going to confession, saying the rosary, attending mass weekly?
Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
He doesn’t shoot people while they’re down.
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