Being patriotic and Catholic

[CLMargaret]

I asked this question under the AAA section, but would like to get some thoughts.

I was watching the interview of a political candidate. He was being questioned about supporting abortion bills. He claims to be Catholic. He said that even though he believes life begins at conception, this is a belief based on religion. He couldn’t impose that belief on someone who may be even more devout (of a different religion) than himself. What? Isn’t that what’s referred to as relitivism? Murder is not ok for me, but if you like it, that’s fine?

So I guess that led me to another train of thought. How can I be patriotic and support all of the wonderful freedoms that we have without supporting this type of thinking? Is it possible?

 

[bilop]

I asked this question under the AAA section, but would like to get some thoughts.

I was watching the interview of a political candidate. He was being questioned about supporting abortion bills. He claims to be Catholic. He said that even though he believes life begins at conception, this is a belief based on religion. He couldn’t impose that belief on someone who may be even more devout (of a different religion) than himself. What? Isn’t that what’s referred to as relitivism? Murder is not ok for me, but if you like it, that’s fine?

So I guess that led me to another train of thought. How can I be patriotic and support all of the wonderful freedoms that we have without supporting this type of thinking? Is it possible?

Sure. You can be patriotic, but still recognize this country’s flaws (it’s still better than most if not all others).

You should support legitimate freedoms (speech, religion, etc.) but oppose “freedoms” that are actually crimes, e.g. abortion.

God Bless

 

[Wirraway]

I asked this question under the AAA section, but would like to get some thoughts.

I was watching the interview of a political candidate. He was being questioned about supporting abortion bills. He claims to be Catholic. He said that even though he believes life begins at conception, this is a belief based on religion. He couldn’t impose that belief on someone who may be even more devout (of a different religion) than himself. What? Isn’t that what’s referred to as relitivism? Murder is not ok for me, but if you like it, that’s fine?

So I guess that led me to another train of thought. How can I be patriotic and support all of the wonderful freedoms that we have without supporting this type of thinking? Is it possible?

you can’t. Catholicism and a constitutionally based representative government do not mix well, in my opinion, they do not mix at all. like it or not, the constitution guarantees the right to engage in all kinds of behavior that Catholics find offensive. the best you can do is pick and choose and try to change what you can.

 

[Caesar517]

There is no shortage of ways to make your voice heard. Write this politician a letter and tell him why he is wrong.

 

[CLMargaret]

I like your idea, Caesar. I think I will do that.

 

[Jack_245814]

There’s nothing wrong with being patriotic so long as your patriotism doesn’t interfere with your Catholicism, I think. You should also probably look up the Pope’s views on world affairs: they’re not infallible but we should still respect them and give them due consideration (I actually agree with him on just about everything I’ve read of what he thinks).

RE: “church and state” . . . the separation of church and state was meant to be just that: render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and render unto God that which is God’s. The Church would be a separate entity from the government, which is very agreeable to me: mixing the church and government tends to corrupt the former imo (though there have always been many pious and holy men within the church).

However, this does not mean that your faith can’t influence your politics. That’s a modern reinterpretation of the doctrine meant to push the secularist view of government. Morals and religion are inseparable for those who are religious. It’s ridiculous to believe that “separation of church and state” means that your religious beliefs can’t influence your politics, and that’s not what the history of this country teaches either. Not that that’s what you were saying, just the anonymous politician you mentioned.

 

[puzzleannie]

I asked this question under the AAA section, but would like to get some thoughts.

I was watching the interview of a political candidate. He was being questioned about supporting abortion bills. He claims to be Catholic. He said that even though he believes life begins at conception, this is a belief based on religion. He couldn’t impose that belief on someone ?

if he were really a patriotic American he would have memorized the Constitution and the Declaration and realize the right to life is the underpinning of all other rights claimed and protected therein.

 

[rwoehmke]

Being a patriot means hat one strives to protect his country from enemies and to ensure that laws are made for the common good of all citizens or inhabitants of that country. Most if not all the common good matters depend on the natural law, but may be embedded in one or another religion as well. Natural law would prohibit murder, abortion, lying, theft, abuse of human sexuality and such like. When the law of the land does not follow the natural law, that land is in a great deal of danger. It is a civilization in decline.

A low requiring every citizen to be in Church on Sunday morning would be one example of a law based on religion and not natural law.

 

[Inman]

you can’t. Catholicism and a constitutionally based representative government do not mix well, in my opinion, they do not mix at all. like it or not, the constitution guarantees the right to engage in all kinds of behavior that Catholics find offensive. the best you can do is pick and choose and try to change what you can.

Obviously, with respect to abortion you are correct. But does being a Catholic mean I have believe that all things that are sinful should also be illegal?

Take adultry for example. It is obviously an objectively grave sin, and as a Catholic I have to believe that is indeed the case. But am I also required to believe and advocate that such a sin be made illegal? (It used to be in some states) I don’t think that I am. If I am wrong about that please let me know so I can go look it up and try to understand the Church’s teaching.

However, I do think there is some tension, or at least potential tension, between allegiance to God and by extenion to the Church, and allegance to a transitory (in the eternal sense) nation state. For me it has come up in the context of the immigration. I have always thought the US, or any country for that matter, should be able to close it borders if it so chooses. But every single one of those immigrants was created by God and endowed with a soul. Jesus told us to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. I am not sure, at least not anymore, that our nation state’s (which is a creation of men and will one day fade into history not unlike the roman empire) desire for border security trumps that obligation.

 

[BlestOne]

if he were really a patriotic American he would have memorized the Constitution and the Declaration and realize the right to life is the underpinning of all other rights claimed and protected therein.

AMEN!!! You are right as usual Puzzleannie!!!