Fr. Edward Beck's comments regarding UBL

[StMichaelsAgent]

Recently, on a number of news programs, Fr. Edward Beck has recently said that it was srong to “celebrate the death of usama bin laden (UBL).” I believe that this was not a celebration of “death” but the defeat of a TRULY EVIL man who brought great anxiety, strife, and anger to many, many people.

Fr. Beck also stated that “we cannot judge who is evil and good…only God can.” I disagree with Fr. Beck because people can use Scripture and the guidance by the Holy Spirit to determine good and evil…and I think it is our responsibility as Christians to seek goodness and shun evil. I believe only God and Jesus can judge whether UBL will be forgiven or sent to hell.

But Fr. Beck, who seems to be a good man, brought up that we should “love and forgive our enemies” and only God and Jesus will be the ultimate judge of good and evil," which are good points.

Now, I don’t believe in the death penalty for heinous crimes, but what do we do about ABSOLUTE EVIL which plots mass death and is an imminent threat to MANY innocent people? Which brings me to my question…Can Christians determine what is Truly evil, and when encountered with Absolute Evil (UBL, Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, etc), should we “just turn the other cheek” and pray for that evil…or can we eliminate that Absolute Evil???

 

[BigFellaMick]

many would argue americas atrocities against innocence over there as well. bomb a dozen people from the other side of the world (most drones are piloted right here in america) then call the terrorist evil and a coward for hiding in a group. As a prior service member I stand with those who see the great evil america does in this war. Instead of only laying blame on UBL you should also pay more attention to what americans do. I dont believe in violence. God delivered me from that nightmare, but to destroy the great evil you speak of, one would have to start with america. I prayed for UBL on his passing. He died in sin for he lived a life of violence without God. War is never just. It breeds only hate. 9/11 was a response to decades of invasive and corrupt foreign policy, just as this war is response to 9/11. The reprisals have to stop someday and God would be happy his children concede in the name of peace.

 

[Elizium23]

We cannot judge others on their souls or their state of grace. We can certainly judge whether actions may be good or evil, but it is wrong to extend the judgment of those actions to a human being.

 

[ANNE_2]

We must never tolerate sin.
Admonishing sinners is one of the Spiritual Works of Mercy.
Judging a soul is out of our pay grade.

CCC - " 1861 Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself. It results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ’s kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back.
However, although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God."

CCC - " 2309 The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration.
The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time:

• the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
• all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
• there must be serious prospects of success;
• the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modem means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.

These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the “just war” doctrine.

The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good. "

 

[BigFellaMick]

no doctrine by man supercedes the word of God. As a catholic you should believe that. Thou shalt not kill. Never said anything about reading the small print where God allows us to bend the rules when it suits a developed nation. That must be a privilige solely for america. And besides the u.s. has denied attempting diplomacy with al qaeda. the u.s. refuses to negotiate with terrorists therefore ways of peace have not been offered/attempted. We must confront sin where we find it yet americans blindly obey their masters in the government and realize that who needs God when you have a government to tell you how to live and what to believe. This war is sin itself and all who willingly fight in it take that sin as their own. If Christ accepted war and violence he would have crushed those who sought to kill him. Instead he conquered their hate with his love and died for all of us. “All” being the key word here. War is NEVER just. To have a conflict thats justified would mean God would favor one sides actions over the other. And doing so would mean God turned his back on the other side. God would NEVER abandon one of his creations, even if they dont believe in him and lead horrible lives like al qaeda or the american govt/military. Let diplomacy bring a cease fire and then through the grace of God perhaps a peace of sorts could be achieved. Would it last? I doubt it. But america is too quick to violence and indiscriminate in whom they kill to further their global agenda. When the anti christ stalks the earth I’d bet money he rises to prominence in america. America is the worlds cesspool for sin and depravity and in DESPERATE need of prayer and love.

 

[iamrefreshed]

Recently, on a number of news programs, Fr. Edward Beck has recently said that it was srong to “celebrate the death of usama bin laden (UBL).” I believe that this was not a celebration of “death” but the defeat of a TRULY EVIL man who brought great anxiety, strife, and anger to many, many people.

Fr. Beck also stated that “we cannot judge who is evil and good…only God can.” I disagree with Fr. Beck because people can use Scripture and the guidance by the Holy Spirit to determine good and evil…and I think it is our responsibility as Christians to seek goodness and shun evil. I believe only God and Jesus can judge whether UBL will be forgiven or sent to hell.

But Fr. Beck, who seems to be a good man, brought up that we should “love and forgive our enemies” and only God and Jesus will be the ultimate judge of good and evil," which are good points.

Now, I don’t believe in the death penalty for heinous crimes, but what do we do about ABSOLUTE EVIL which plots mass death and is an imminent threat to MANY innocent people? Which brings me to my question…Can Christians determine what is Truly evil, and when encountered with Absolute Evil (UBL, Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, etc), should we “just turn the other cheek” and pray for that evil…or can we eliminate that Absolute Evil???

Is there a news story to go with this?