Beck: Help us restore traditional American values

[po18guy]

Thanks Via for posting this. Just when I was losing hope in the Catholic Church based on things such as a priest at my nearest Catholic Church sayng his answer to the poor is to get a job. Which clearly was not Jesus’s only answer. And based on some of the things I read here on CAF. You then find a priest who actually gets the Gospel. Clearly Christ’s only mission was not only to free us from sin. But to care for the sick. To serve the poor.

Fr Martin brings the Gospel home. He correctly points out the opposite of the Gospel. He hits a HR when he says to count how many times Jesus speaks of the poor.

The article states JP2 said special consideration needs to be given to the rights of the poor. I only wish the Church would be doing that today and at least elevating Christ’s social justice issues to the importance She gives other issues. It reminded me of Beck’s denouncement of social justice. At the time I was corresponding with a Disciples of Christ pastor who told me one can not truly follow Jesus and not be strong on the issue of the poor. And I wondered why can so many of my fellow Catholics today not seem to get this? It is my belief that only when the poor are risen to the top of the mount of important issues shall we Catholics indeed be fulfilling the Gospel of our Lord.

It always amazes me and I see it right here on CAF everyday, the many Catholics who want the govt to get involved on some issues. But when it comes to the poor Jesus advocated the most for, they scream no.

But Fr Martin probably hit a grand slam when he spoke about how part of the problem is that it can be disturbng for some to consider those whom Jesus served as understanding Him better.

Thankfully though there are the Fr Martins of the world who get the Gospel too and are still preaching it to us.

I’m still unsure there are enough Fr Martins in today’s Catholic Church. We can only pray the Gospel message sinks in to those who still do not believe. God bless Fr Martin. And God bless you Via for bringing this to our attn. Peace.

All I can say to you is that I have trod the soil of Suchitoto in El Salvador. I have seen the pock marks of the bullets that “class struggle” and “armed conflict” - the fruits of liberation theology - have brought forth. Liberation theology is a perversion of Christianity in that it produces a change of ammunition, not a change of heart.

 

[Tasha]

Hello. I attended the Restoring Honor rally. I have a few comments to make. Right up front, I would like to say I am a Catholic. I don’t agree with Glenn Beck on his religion. I believe the Catholic Church is the Church Jesus founded and Joseph Smith founded Beck’s church.

However, I do agree with a lot of what Beck says, not everything, but a lot. I didn’t drink the Glenn Beck Kool-Aid, if you know what I mean. I can think for myself. What I do agree with is that I love my country. I believe in faith, hope and charity. I am grateful to our soldiers. I believe in honor. I don’t see much honor, or faith or hope or charity in the daily grind of my life. It’s discouraging. It’s so hard to find common ground between people these days and Faith, Hope, Charity and Honor are a great starting point. I spent a lot of time with strangers that were simply amazing. Yeah, we went to see Glenn Beck, Alveeda King, Marcus Lutrell and others on stage, but it was the crowd that proved- lived out those principals and impressed me the most. I never seen so many people on one place that were so well behaved, so peaceful, so kind, so generous, so respectful to one another. I am a seasoned concert-goer. I’ve been to huge concerts, 100,000 plus at certain concerts. But I’ve never seen anything like this crowd.

I could write a lot more about it, but I am still organizing my thoughts about it. It was a lot to take in. But I’ll tell you this, it did give me hope. It gave me the hope that there ARE good people out there, and lots of them. I’m certain the Catholic Church made a good showing in that crowd. I hope my behavior was a reflection of my Catholic faith. Do I wish Glenn Beck was Catholic? Sure. Maybe if we pray hard enough he’ll make it Home.

P.S. The crowd was larger than the media reported, even the number Beck decided on (500,000) was low-ball. Others that were with me from my bus guessed upwards of 750,000. Lots of people didn’t get there until very late. Some didn’t make it at all due to the Metro back up.

 

[Darryl1958]

Catholics are obliged to reject liberation theology, collective salvation, etc.

This is the religion of the Left of course. It is a free country. They may choose to build the Catholic Church in their own Marxist image according to their own willfulness.

Good luck with that.

But here is a case where a Mormon is truer to the Catholic teaching of the bishops and the pope than the liberal Catholics that worship in the House of Huffington ever will be.

 

[CMatt25]

All I can say to you is that I have trod the soil of Suchitoto in El Salvador. I have seen the pock marks of the bullets that “class struggle” and “armed conflict” - the fruits of liberation theology - have brought forth. Liberation theology is a perversion of Christianity in that it produces a change of ammunition, not a change of heart.

Here we go again. You should read the article. I know he said there are various definitions. But I missed the part where Fr Martin advocated firing bullets in his. That’s because he didn’t.

 

[Darryl1958]

The “social justice” and “liberation theology” that supports abortion is the what Beck is speaking out against.

Pope John Paul II was intimately familiar with the type of ‘liberation’ that was being preached here. Having come from ‘liberated’ Poland, he did well to reject that double-speak involved in those kind of theologies.

 

[po18guy]

Here we go again. You should read the article. I know he said there are various definitions. But I missed the part where Fr Martin advocated firing bullets in his. That’s because he didn’t.

I did read read the article. Father Martin, for the sake of a political philosophy, conveniently ignores the reality of the implementation of liberation theology. I put my fingers in the bullet holes. I doubt that he has done the same and pondered the wisdom of preaching “class struggle”.

If liberation theology had not taken root in El Salvador, the poor would still be poor, but they would be alive. It is always a tragedy when ideology trumps the value of human life.

 

[CMatt25]

I did read read the article. Father Martin, for the sake of a political philosophy, conveniently ignores the reality of the implementation of liberation theology. I put my fingers in the bullet holes. I doubt that he has done the same and pondered the wisdom of preaching “class struggle”.

If liberation theology had not taken root in El Salvador, the poor would still be poor, but they would be alive. It is always a tragedy when ideology trumps the value of human life.

If you read it and still don’t get it, I can’t do any more then than to pray for you I suppose. Fr Martin is not advocating bullets and for you to keep posting about guns and bullets only shows you don’t get it. I pray someday you can move beyond your El Salvador trip and understand what Fr Martin is saying.about the Gospel message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Peace.

 

[po18guy]

If you read it and still don’t get it, I can’t do any more then than to pray for you I suppose. Fr Martin is not advocating bullets and for you to keep posting about guns and bullets only shows you don’t get it. I pray someday you can move beyond your El Salvador trip and understand what Fr Martin is saying.about the Gospel message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Peace.

Slow down, please! I did not say that anyone is advocating bullets, OK?

Father Martin is advocating an aberrant theology which has failed repeatedly in actual practice and which is only tangentially consistent with Church teaching. Liberation theology, inspite of the warm, fuzzy intent of its supporters, has the effect of armed conflict and death.

Again, our choices are not simply between a rightist Mormon and a leftist Priest. The Church teaches a better way than both of them.

 

[NEWCATHOLICJEFF]

All I can say to you is that I have trod the soil of Suchitoto in El Salvador. I have seen the pock marks of the bullets that “class struggle” and “armed conflict” - the fruits of liberation theology - have brought forth. Liberation theology is a perversion of Christianity in that it produces a change of ammunition, not a change of heart.

So don’t believe in the theology, but help the poor. We don’t have to link the two.

 

[bbarrick8383]

So don’t believe in the theology, but help the poor. We don’t have to link the two.

He’s not talking about just plain theology.

 

[NEWCATHOLICJEFF]

He’s not talking about just plain theology.

True. I should have included political beliefs in my answer. So …“revised” don’t link them…help the poor.

 

[iamrefreshed]

It’s hard to take anything seriously from a priest who would take a cheap shot at future saint.

"In its heyday, liberation theology was not without controversy: some thought its emphasis on political advocacy skirted too close to Marxism–including Pope John Paul II. On the other hand, John Paul didn’t shy away from personally involving himself in direct political activism in Poland. It was the Latin American version of social action that seemed to bother him more.

 

[Ridgerunner]

A distinction perhaps should be made between true “Liberation Theology”, as it has been seen in, especially Latin America, and the American version, which I think of as “Liberation Theology Lite”.

In true 'Liberation Theology", Marxism really does seem to be the guiding light, and violence seems to follow in its train.

“Liberation Theology Lite” is, essentially American liberal politics. People are encouraged to think that if they vote Democrat, they are morally secure. It may be observed that neither political party in the U.S. does anything for the truly needy, and most definitely not the most needy. Liberal politics in the U.S. is just that; politics. It’s middle class welfare, because the bulk of votes is in the middle class.

Democrat or Republican or Independent, people need to realize that there is no correllation between American “Liberation Theology Lite” and aiding the poor.

 

[Tasha]

I meant principle, not principal.

 

[Darryl1958]

Here we go again. You should read the article. I know he said there are various definitions. But I missed the part where Fr Martin advocated firing bullets in his. That’s because he didn’t.

It is wilfull naivete at this point not to understand that implementing Marxism into a society ultimately comes down to force, implementing wealth distribution from the middle class to the government at gunpoint.

 

[scipio337]

I notice the original poster has abandoned this thread with aplomb.

I have one question: In regards to Social Justice doctrine, is it still considered “charity” if funds for helping the poor is taken at the point of a gun, on the threat of imprisonment (i.e., “taxes”)??

I’m not even touching the “cheerful giver”.

And let’s not forget the primary role of Social Justice doctrine is preserving life and the dignity of life.

At the center of the Church’s teaching on peace and at the center of all Catholic social teaching are the transcendence of God and the dignity of the human person. The human person is the clearest reflection of God’s presence in the world; all of the Church’s work in pursuit of both justice and peace is designed to protect and promote the dignity of every person.

U. S. Bishops. “The Challenge of Peace”, 1983
osjspm.org/the_challenge_of_peace_1.aspx

 

[Darryl1958]

The fact that Beck really believes that this country needs to get back to God is a huge plus regardless of what religion he is. He is absolutely right, the only way this country can be saved is to return to God, and if he is the one saying it then God bless him. W e should all pray that he comes home to Catholicism.

Pray too that the 54 % if Catholics that support abortion with their votes come back to the Church too, and the values that Beck is espousing.

 

[irishpatrick]

No matter how I try, I cannot put my finger on exactly what it is about Beck that I just do not like. I can only watch the guy speak for a few minutes. I feel like he oftens says good things, but there is something underneath him that troubles me. I am amazed with the following he and Palin have…reminds me a lot of Obama…it seems so many people are looking to worship someone.

Beck’s enormous (and near instant) popularity has to have Bill O’Reilly wondering…

It is sad that so many people will turn to people instead of God.

I am sure it is just me.

 

[Suudy]

Thanks Via for posting this. Just when I was losing hope in the Catholic Church based on things such as a priest at my nearest Catholic Church sayng his answer to the poor is to get a job. Which clearly was not Jesus’s only answer. And based on some of the things I read here on CAF. You then find a priest who actually gets the Gospel. Clearly Christ’s only mission was not only to free us from sin. But to care for the sick. To serve the poor.

Here we go again.

You never answered the questions put forth in the other thread (here):

What was Jesus’ mission? To make sure everyone has food, clothes, shelter, and health care? Or man’s salvation? Seriously. Which was his end goal?

Sorry, but Christ’s ultimate goal was to save us. And feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and ministering to the afflicted were a means to an end. Not the end. Feeding and clothing people, providing them shelter, visiting them when imprisoned, etc do not save their souls, or our souls. Salvation is not found in a full belly, a warm bed, or medical care.

The article states JP2 said special consideration needs to be given to the rights of the poor. I only wish the Church would be doing that today and at least elevating Christ’s social justice issues to the importance She gives other issues.

What good is the feeding the hungry if they have no right to life?
What good is the sheltering of the homeless if they have no right to life?

I’ve already posted this before, and you ignored it. Cardinal Bernardin, the father of the Seamless Garment (which you seem to be a fan of), said (source):

" ‘*The fundamental human right is to life—from the moment of conception until death. It is the source of all other rights, including the right to health care’ (The Consistent Ethic of Life and Health Care Systems, *Foster McGaw Triennial Conference, Loyola University of Chicago, May 8, 1985)."

’ *"Not all values, however, are of equal weight. Some are more fundamental than others. On this Respect Life Sunday, I wish to emphasize that no earthly value is more fundamental than human life itself. Human life is the condition for enjoying freedom and all other values. Consequently, if one must choose between protecting or serving lesser human values that depend upon life for their existence and life itself, human life must take precedence. Today the recognition of human life as a fundamental value is threatened. Nowhere is this clearer than in the case of elective abortion. At present in our country this procedure takes the lives of over 4,000 unborn children every day and over 1.5 million each year.’ " (*1 October 1989 “Deciding for Life,”)

Gee, even the Cardinal, one who advocates for the poor, believes that life issues come first, and should be given primary attention.

It reminded me of Beck’s denouncement of social justice. At the time I was corresponding with a Disciples of Christ pastor who told me one can not truly follow Jesus if they are not strongest on the issues of the poor and peace. And I wondered why can so many of my fellow Catholics today not seem to get this? It is my belief that only when the poor are risen to the top of the mount of important issues shall we Catholics indeed be fulfilling the Gospel of our Lord.

Ummm…perhaps we don’t see it the way you do. Can there be peace when millions of innocent children are killed every year? Note that your DoC pastor said “issues of the poor and peace.” You keep focusing on the former, but ignoring the latter.

It always amazes me and I see it right here on CAF everyday, the many Catholics who want the govt to get involved on some issues. But when it comes to the poor Jesus advocated the most for, they scream no.

Gee, because it violates Catholic principles such as subsidiarity? Again, have you read Centesimus Annus? I’ll ask again, but it makes clear that the government’s proper role is not to provide services. That is the proper role of the “individuals and various groups” that make up society. Look it up.

The proper role of the government is to protect, support, and coordinate. It must protect the rights of the people. It must support and coordinate the groups to ensure a stable currency and efficient public services.

Seriously. Read Centesimus Annus.

 

[Darryl1958]

… Once you have made the World an end, and faith a means, you have almost won your man, and it makes very little difference what kind of worldly end he is pursuing. Ishii

Marxism and much of today’s leftist theology are based on a worldview of materialism, in which material goods are the measure of all. Outside of the world of materialism, there is nothing. Because this world is all their is, Liberaton theology is Worldy. The idea that this world is all that there is the underlying assumption. Economics define everything.

Plain old social justice is someone volunteering at a soup kitchen, at an assisted living facility, at a homeless shelter, witnessing at an abortion clinic. One thing you don’t hear about from the Social Justice folks is any substantive criticism of abortion, because they don’t think its evil. Their cause is marxism. They are essentially leftist radicals wearing clerics. The article shows just how far the Jesuits have fallen.

Ishii

Pelosi is a prime example here. With her advocacy of the goodness of birth control, the next generation becomes even regarded as parasitic, sapping wealth from the poor.

Borth control and abortion even become means of wealth-generation then, for the Religion of the Left. They are goods in and of themselves.