P
PJM
Guest
This is a letter I am sending to my Bishop.
You might consider doing something similar?
PJM m.c “Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus”
What we are called to be and what we pray to become
Dear Bishop,
I read recently that “over 100 Bishops have spoken out on the issue of Abortion, and our Catholic and Christian obligation to “Vote Pro Life, in America’s written Press, during the just passed election year.” (this list on a seperate post"only about 100 Bishops)
The article was authored by, Mr. Deal W. Hudson who has listed by name and Diocese the number of American Prelates who have spoken out on the Issue of the requirement of a Catholic Pro Life Vote, in the printed press. I thank God that the Florida Bishops Issued a Joint Statement, and I have also read several of the articles you personally have written. Thank you and God bless you!
I am writing this letter not in anger, not even as a criticism, but as an advisory of what I see as a window of opportunity.
The USCCB web site, list some 428 Bishops, Cardinals and retired Bishops. So even if Mr. Hudson’s list missed another 100 Bishops, that still means about half did not, for a multitude of reasons, participate in the office of teaching, at least in the public press, on this issue of Grave importance. Again, not a criticism, just an observation. Might one assume that a similar accounting of priest would reflect again that about half, aggressively taught this Grave Catholic Obligation?
The Church cannot tell us who to vote for, but can, and indeed must tell us whom we cannot vote for, based on historical evidence, if available, on issues of Life and Death.
I have read in several published reports, including the day after the election by “USA Today,” that over fifty percent of Catholics (at least professed to be Catholics) voted for President Elect Obama, despite the great efforts of a great number of Bishops and priest to make us aware of his proven “Pro death” record. This number has remained roughly the same with Mr. Gore, Mr. Kerry and now, Mr. Obama. Clearly the Church’s teaching the message of Life, is either not getting out, is not being understood, or is being rejected for personal preferences. It is at base, an issue of humble obedience.
I am of the strong belief that the prevalent philosophy of “The Fundamental Option,” written about by all recent Popes, is at root, the issue that needs to be addressed. The professed Christian Community, in the same report, only had a thirty-five percent vote for Mr. Obama. Obviously a great many Catholics no longer understand, or accept, the mandate of humble obedience to Church Teachings.
Good Bishop, this is the window of opportunity of which I speak. I humbly plead, beseech, and beg you to turn the tide of ignorance; willful or not, and make it a top priority to make every human, and God assisted effort to insure that this act of defiance, that reflects so poorly, at the very moral foundation of Christ Church be changed. This Grave assault, on the Church’s mandate to teach, and the absolute requirement for all Catholics to listen, needs to be a top priority that you place on everyone, who in anyway, is involved in Catholic Religious Instruction. Priest, Deacons, Religious, Educators, RCIA and Conformation instructors and well as all involved in our Catholic Schools. It should be much more than an option by this called by God group, to unify behind your call for specific instruction on obedience to Church teaching, and Life Issues.
The bible in any given “Church Year” affords many opportunities. Readings about “the body,” about “the temple,” about life and death being only God’s domain, and why this must be so, provides much fertile ground for teaching, humble obedience, and the significance of Life issues, and one’s Grave Moral responsibility to understand that Life issues have to take precedence over Party Line voting, or even other existing issues that at there core, are too, Life issues.
For example: Immigration is a people issue.
Taxes are a people issue.
The war is a people issue.
Issues of Medical Care are people issues.
Jobs are a people issue.
The sate of our economy is a people issue.
But “all do nothing for the child who will not live to see the light of day.” Life can’t be just about us, what we want, what we prefer. We are members of a community responsible to each other. We have a mandate from Christ Himself to be obedient to Church teachings and to support life.
Dear Bishop please use the power of your office to mandate and influence in every way possible the turn around of the Catholic Pro Life Vote before the next election. It is the right thing to do. Not only does such an action support life, but it also teaches obedience.
The topic of teaching informed and humble obedience as it relates to all Church teachings needs to become a priority of your Decipleship. This is a great topic for retreats, for Education seminars, and a worthy topic of regular homilies.
May God bless you and continue to guide you in your efforts to share the Good News. Jesus Christ is Lord!
Know that you are in my prayers,
PJM m.c.
You might consider doing something similar?
PJM m.c “Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus”
What we are called to be and what we pray to become
Dear Bishop,
I read recently that “over 100 Bishops have spoken out on the issue of Abortion, and our Catholic and Christian obligation to “Vote Pro Life, in America’s written Press, during the just passed election year.” (this list on a seperate post"only about 100 Bishops)
The article was authored by, Mr. Deal W. Hudson who has listed by name and Diocese the number of American Prelates who have spoken out on the Issue of the requirement of a Catholic Pro Life Vote, in the printed press. I thank God that the Florida Bishops Issued a Joint Statement, and I have also read several of the articles you personally have written. Thank you and God bless you!
I am writing this letter not in anger, not even as a criticism, but as an advisory of what I see as a window of opportunity.
The USCCB web site, list some 428 Bishops, Cardinals and retired Bishops. So even if Mr. Hudson’s list missed another 100 Bishops, that still means about half did not, for a multitude of reasons, participate in the office of teaching, at least in the public press, on this issue of Grave importance. Again, not a criticism, just an observation. Might one assume that a similar accounting of priest would reflect again that about half, aggressively taught this Grave Catholic Obligation?
The Church cannot tell us who to vote for, but can, and indeed must tell us whom we cannot vote for, based on historical evidence, if available, on issues of Life and Death.
I have read in several published reports, including the day after the election by “USA Today,” that over fifty percent of Catholics (at least professed to be Catholics) voted for President Elect Obama, despite the great efforts of a great number of Bishops and priest to make us aware of his proven “Pro death” record. This number has remained roughly the same with Mr. Gore, Mr. Kerry and now, Mr. Obama. Clearly the Church’s teaching the message of Life, is either not getting out, is not being understood, or is being rejected for personal preferences. It is at base, an issue of humble obedience.
I am of the strong belief that the prevalent philosophy of “The Fundamental Option,” written about by all recent Popes, is at root, the issue that needs to be addressed. The professed Christian Community, in the same report, only had a thirty-five percent vote for Mr. Obama. Obviously a great many Catholics no longer understand, or accept, the mandate of humble obedience to Church Teachings.
Good Bishop, this is the window of opportunity of which I speak. I humbly plead, beseech, and beg you to turn the tide of ignorance; willful or not, and make it a top priority to make every human, and God assisted effort to insure that this act of defiance, that reflects so poorly, at the very moral foundation of Christ Church be changed. This Grave assault, on the Church’s mandate to teach, and the absolute requirement for all Catholics to listen, needs to be a top priority that you place on everyone, who in anyway, is involved in Catholic Religious Instruction. Priest, Deacons, Religious, Educators, RCIA and Conformation instructors and well as all involved in our Catholic Schools. It should be much more than an option by this called by God group, to unify behind your call for specific instruction on obedience to Church teaching, and Life Issues.
The bible in any given “Church Year” affords many opportunities. Readings about “the body,” about “the temple,” about life and death being only God’s domain, and why this must be so, provides much fertile ground for teaching, humble obedience, and the significance of Life issues, and one’s Grave Moral responsibility to understand that Life issues have to take precedence over Party Line voting, or even other existing issues that at there core, are too, Life issues.
For example: Immigration is a people issue.
Taxes are a people issue.
The war is a people issue.
Issues of Medical Care are people issues.
Jobs are a people issue.
The sate of our economy is a people issue.
But “all do nothing for the child who will not live to see the light of day.” Life can’t be just about us, what we want, what we prefer. We are members of a community responsible to each other. We have a mandate from Christ Himself to be obedient to Church teachings and to support life.
Dear Bishop please use the power of your office to mandate and influence in every way possible the turn around of the Catholic Pro Life Vote before the next election. It is the right thing to do. Not only does such an action support life, but it also teaches obedience.
The topic of teaching informed and humble obedience as it relates to all Church teachings needs to become a priority of your Decipleship. This is a great topic for retreats, for Education seminars, and a worthy topic of regular homilies.
May God bless you and continue to guide you in your efforts to share the Good News. Jesus Christ is Lord!
Know that you are in my prayers,
PJM m.c.
