Culture of life and voting in the U.S

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Dwc:

I think that your sister needs to describe her situation to her parish priest. At St. Mary’s we have a Discretionary fund for members of the Parish and people in the immediate community who are in urgent need. I would have a hard time believing that Catholic parishes don’t have something similar.

St Mary’s is and has been an “Industry” parish, so people are always sharing roles, projects etc. and trying to help each other out. Your sister’s local parish should have something like that to help her with a hand up.

I also hope, that once she’s allerted the members of her parish to her need, that some of the people might try to help with CHILD CARE.
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dwc:
Again, my point is this isn’t an either/or, or it shouldn’t be. Part of my frustration is that in our political system it has turned into pretty close to that and I’m asking for ideas how to reconcile it. I’m not for abortion, my first post explained my position about that. So while you’re very eloquent on why you consider abortion such an overwhelming issue, you’re preaching to the choir. My question is how to address BOTH pro-life and our responsibility to the poor.

David Paul, no, I don’t see what you outlined as helping the poor or disabled. Maybe you could be a little more detailed? For example, my sister. She graduated high school, married and had two little ones. Her husband had a psychotic break and put both her and the children in danger and refused treatment. They had both worked full time minimum wage jobs, and when they separated she was plunged far below poverty level with two little kids to support and a now mentally ill husband who was no longer working and therefor unable to pay support. My family is low middle class, I was in school, we helped as able, but couldn’t support them. What would your solution for her be? How do those programs keep her and her children with shelter and food and medical care until she gets on her feet?

Whether the Great Society failed or not, here we are and here are the poor and the mentally and physically disabled and the sick and whatever, and we have an affirmative obligation, per Jesus’ own words in the gospels and per numerous church teachings, to try to help these people. There’s no way around that.

And, the situation we are in is one in which the government taxes us and then decides what to do with the money, whether to use it to assist those in need, or not. So, is your answer “government can’t solve the problem” and that’s it? Is that the extent of your efforts and thoughts on the matter? Because that’s what I’m hearing here, folks, and no alternative ideas. Is that what you plan on saying to Jesus some day when He reminds you that what you
did for the least of your brothers, you did for Him?
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DWC, the affirmative obligation isn’t to get the government to do it, but to do it ourselves. Have your sister talk to her local parish priest and to Catholic Social Services and give them a chance to live up to their affirmative obligation.

Remember, St. Stephen the first Martyr was a Deacon who was appointed and ordained to help people like your sister.

I remember when my father had to apply for Food Stamps amd Medi-Cal, and the HUMILIATION on his face and in his shuffle. and, Then I had to use them in the store…

Even a couple of bags of groceries every two weeks from the parish pantry is better than that.

May God comfort your sister in her need. Michael
 
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JW10631:
George W. Bush, by himself, cannot end abortion. Should the judicial filibuster threat be broken, the Bush can nominate - and have confirmed - judges who may look critically at the fallacy that is Roe v Wade.

Should Roe v Wade be overturned at some time in the future, then the inividual state laws would kick in. Some states allowed abortion and some did not. There would be a situation similar to the death penalty, where some states have it and some do not.

It is not enough to overturn Roe v Wade. A much larger group of people must have a change of mind and heart.
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JW10631,

That is NO reason NOT to try to end the FILIBUSTER so that President Bush can NOMINATE PRO-LIFE NOMINEES and end Roe v. Wade.

Unlike before, we now have the experimental data. People know, or can know, that Abortion not only kills Babies but ruins the lives of the women who have them.

People also know, or can know, all of the other terrible effects of Abortion on women, men, marraiges and society.

This would mean that our chances of getting many states to OVERTURN THOSE LAWS would be better than they were in the late 1960’s - early 1970’s at the height of “Sexual Revolution”.

The fact that more work will have to bo done is NO reason not to take the first step. Fears over the uncertainties of what might be is NO reason NOT to deal with a KNOWN AND PRESENT EVIL!

The Deadline is Late Mon. Night

Thread - Read and digest

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=50594

Contact Information:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=632350&postcount=40

Thank You, and May God richly bless those who act to save His Little Ones, Michael
 
[DWC “…As Catholics, we are called to champion life and quality of life (food, education, safety, health care, peace) at all stages. What can and should we do to try to bring our political reality more into line with our faith?..”]

Dear DWC,
I provided above my thoughts regarding the need to eliminate abortions, but this was not what you were looking for.

As Catholics we are called to bring political reality in line with our faith. How can we do that? First, living our faith…giving alms, tithing, reaching out to the marginalized, attending the sacraments…? Second, proclaiming our faith in family life, church, politics, and work?

As Catholics, we are politically responsible before God for the enculturation of our faith into society. Do we elect those officials who hold closest to Catholic values, particularly on non-negotiable items such as sacredness of life and heterosexual marriage – and do we publically deny those who do otherwise? Have we or do we make our expectations known to our elected officials when it comes to votes and issues like homosexual marriage, euthanasia, judges ignoring the constitution, abortion, parental rights…? Have we and do we sit still while government takes God and prayer out of the public eye and makes a clear statement that God has no place there, thus promoting atheism (this is heresy, God belongs everywhere and we should never be ashamed to proclaim Him at the LORD)? Do we allow through our patronage and lack of voice immorality and immodesty in media, glorification of vengence, dishonesty and theft…? Do we allow public officials to get away with immoral acts, like playing with cigars in viginas? Do we allow evil acts to get someone ahead…by buying their books…watching their movies…? Do we make counter proposals to our politicians about how to best spend our tax dollars for the benefit of all of society? The list can go on and on. ** As Catholics we must take political responsibility and action.**

Catholics are called to be principaled, not partisan. As I see it, presently the Republican party comes closest to Catholic values, particularly on the essential items – acceptance of God, wrongfulness of abortion and euthanasia, evil of embryonic stem cell research, and maintaining marriage as a sacred bond between a man and woman. The republicans are trying to counter the judges who reject our constitution by keeping abortion, by those willing to let the constitution be their guide. If Democrats change their platform and embrace these issues then my affiliation would likely change. On the other hand, just because I voted for someone does not let me off the hook. I must and do hold them accountable. I let them know my thoughts and expectations about critical issues. I write letters and editorials regardinmg my views. I with hold my patronage from immoral media and let them know it. I volunteer my time for ministry. I live my values at work. Like you, I mus become the voice for the marginalized of society and ensure enculturization of our values. Blind partisanship has no place in Catholic life!

Love & peace in Christ,
Bob
 
The ideal system of government is one in which neither Big Government nor Big Business are really that big. Socialism claims to take care of us, says that the gov’t will feed the poor, etc. It can’t, and shouldn’t. But pure capitalism is supremely unkind to the poor, offering little or no opportunity for one to improve his situation. There needs to be a medium.

The Church is crucial in meeting this end (I believe). Because it is the role of the church to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and so on. Christians (at least in this country) have largely stepped back to let the gov’t fulfill the commands of our Lord for us, eschewing personal and corporate responsibility within the Church. It’s very disappointing.

I suggest we stop looking for a solution in the gov’t, because chances are, we won’t get it. Christianity has been able to flourish 'round the world, in a variety of economic systems, the lesson being that it is not the gov’t we need keep our eyes on, but Christ. Do his work.
 
I agree with Sgt Sweaters that we must take personal responsibility as Christians. Also, as (in American society) we are part of government, we must take personal responsibility for forming government according to Christ. As followers of Christ, we must not let government dictate morality to us, we need to dictate morality to it. Yes, we must legislate morality – murder, theft, sacraledge, parental obedience, abortion, euthanasia, purgery, sacredness of marriage, adultry/fornication and other sexual perversions, feeding the needy, caring for sick, the dignity of every human life…

Love & peace in Christ,
Bob
 
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trailblazer:
Yes, we must legislate morality –
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Something oft missed by opponents of your view is that there’s nothing to legislate but morality! All laws impose some sort of standard on people.
 
Trailblazer, Traditional Ang and Sgt Sweaters, thank you all so much for your posts and thoughts, especially for the prayer for my sister, Michael. You’ve given me lots to think about and digest. I’m going to reread your posts. Thanks again.
 
There is now a deal in place that was just worked out this afternoon beteern some “Moderate” Republicans and som “Moderate” Democrats…

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=683128&postcount=63
forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=683170&postcount=64
Traditional Ang:
JW10631,

That is NO reason NOT to try to end the FILIBUSTER so that President Bush can NOMINATE PRO-LIFE NOMINEES and end Roe v. Wade.

Unlike before, we now have the experimental data. People know, or can know, that Abortion not only kills Babies but ruins the lives of the women who have them.

People also know, or can know, all of the other terrible effects of Abortion on women, men, marraiges and society.

This would mean that our chances of getting many states to OVERTURN THOSE LAWS would be better than they were in the late 1960’s - early 1970’s at the height of “Sexual Revolution”.

The fact that more work will have to bo done is NO reason not to take the first step. Fears over the uncertainties of what might be is NO reason NOT to deal with a KNOWN AND PRESENT EVIL!

The Deadline is Late Mon. Night

Thread - Read and digest

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=50594

Contact Information:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=632350&postcount=40

Thank You, and May God richly bless those who act to save His Little Ones, Michael
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Thank you to those who wrote e-mails, phoned Senators and tried to get others to do the same.

May God Richly bless those who acted to sve His Little Ones. Michael
 
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