Glenn Beck says to run away from churches who preach social justice?

[josephdavid]

1. The struggle against destitution, though urgent and necessary, is not enough. It is a question, rather, of building a world where every man, no matter what his race, religion or nationality, can live a fully human life, freed from servitude imposed on him by other men or by natural forces over which he has not sufficient control; a world where freedom is not an empty word and where the poor man Lazarus can sit down at the same table with the rich man. This demands great generosity, much sacrifice and unceasing effort on the part of the rich man.

Let each one examine his conscience, a conscience that conveys a new message for our times. Is he prepared to support out of his own pocket works and undertakings organized in favor of the most destitute?

Is he ready to pay higher taxes so that the public authorities can intensify their efforts in favor of development? Is he ready to pay a higher price for imported goods so that the producer may be more justly rewarded? Or to leave his country, if necessary and if he is young, in order to assist in this development of the young nations?

#87) Government officials, it is your concern to mobilize your peoples to form a more effective world solidarity, and above all to make them accept the necessary taxes on their luxuries and their wasteful expenditures, in order to bring about development and to save the peace

~ Pope Paul VI, On Development of Peoples

 

[Tigg]

Could you explain your last statement. Are you saying that people or for that matter churches who aspouse social justice are in favor of the rant you just posted?

I am really confused. A previous poster made a comment to the effect that some of us are not even speaking the same language. I agree. What is your definition of social justice? Taxpayer funded abortions for the poor, same-sex marriage, free contraception for both legal and illegal immigrants under the guise of “reproductive health,” the burden of increased taxes until we are all brought down to equal levels of misery and injustice? These are just some of the causes championed by the Progressives touting social justice and whom Beck warns against.

I am further confused by your use of the word rant. Is this not a public board where issues are discussed. You were challenged by a post you made with an analytical assessment of that post in a charitable way directly in line with the subject matter of this thread.

It is agreed that in our time the common good is chiefly guaranteed when personal rights and duties are maintained. The chief concern of civil authorities must therefore be to ensure that these rights are acknowledged, respected, coordinated with other rights, defended and promoted, so that in this way each one may more easily carry out his duties. For “to safeguard the inviolable rights of the human person, and to facilitate the fulfillment of his duties, should be the chief duty of every public authority.”
~ Peace on Earth, Pope JohnXXIII

The Catholic tradition calls for] a society of free work of enterprise and of participation. Such a society is not directed against the market, but demands that the market be appropriately controlled by the forces of society and by the State, so as to guarantee that the basic needs of the whole of society are satisfied.
~Pope John Paul II, The 100th Year

Governments must provide regulations and a system of taxation which encourage firms to preserve the environment, employ disadvantaged workers, and create jobs in depressed areas. Managers and stockholders should not be torn between their responsibilities to their organizations and their responsibilities toward society as a whole.
~ Economics Justice for All

Society as a whole, acting through public and private institutions, has the moral responsibility to enhance human dignity and protect human rights. In addition to the clear responsibility of private institutions, government has an essential responsibility in this area. This does not mean that government has the primary or exclusive role, but it does have a positive moral responsibility in safeguarding human rights and ensuring that the minimum conditions of human dignity are met for all. In a democracy, government is a means by which we can act together to protect what is important to us and to promote our common values.
~Economic Justice for All, USCCB 1986

The complex circumstances of our day make it necessary for public authority to intervene more often in social, economic and cultural matters in order to bring about favorable conditions which will give more effective help to citizens and groups in their free pursuit of man’s total well-being.
~Second Vatican Council

Matthew 25
usccb.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew25.htm

I just have one question. WHO decides and enforces what is the common good? With the overt corruption of current politicians and disregard for the Law of the Land, the common good is becoming nothing more than an excuse for total state control in a nation that is, as we have been told by our leader, “no longer Christian.”

 

[josephdavid]

I
I just have one question. WHO decides and enforces what is the common good? With the overt corruption of current politicians and disregard for the Law of the Land, the common good is becoming nothing more than an excuse for total state control in a nation that is, as we have been told by our leader, “no longer Christian.”

That is where individual responsibility comes into play. Just because the Christian politician is in government does not give him/her a pass in responsibilities to their consituents and to their Faith.

It is up to us as individuals and collectively to hold our politicians and businesses responsible for their actions and to act in the common good of all citizens in this nation and around the world.

I agree with you there is much corruption in our government both local and federal. Were large Corporation and a very select few of the citizens have more power to dictate what and how the government works and for who. Our Scripture and our Catechism demands that business, government AND the individual must work collectively for the common good of all humanity ESPECIALLY the poor, the sick, the children and the elderly.

Our Constitution says that Federal govermnet has the right to collect taxes and distribute them for both defense and the general welfare of this nation. His Scripture and the Catechism validates the State’s right to tax BUT to use it for the common good of all men and especially the most vulnerable in society. As citizens we need to be more demanding that they use it for just causes and for ALL Americans. I do not agree funding federal or even locally tax dollars for abortion or contreception just as Title X programs have done over the past decade (President Bush and Congress approved in 2003 and 2006). I definately do not support Federal funding in any health care bill of aboriton either. Thus I support the Hyde Amendment, The Stupak Amendement and any other Amendement that comes their way to prohibit Federal Funding of aboriton.

 

[ositakc]

Mr. Beck lost a lot of credibility with me a couple of years ago when I sat completely astonished watching his interview with Tim LaHaye and pal (the authors of the Left Behind series), discussing the secret Rapture of ‘true believers’ and other end-times speculations as if they were ‘gospel’ truth. Glenn acted as though he believed every word of it… I was really disappointed (an understatement) that something like this would be given a nation-wide airing. So now, whenever I happen to catch part of his show, I take whatever he says with a grain or two of salt.

 

[Phil_Stone]

“the churches that are liberal have a general tendency to promote social justice beyond what is normal. They need to “fill the gap” so to speak after rejecting some church teaching.”

Actually many churches promote social justice issues because they pay attention to church teaching, rather than ignoring what doesn’t fit their politics. And they see acting like they think Christ would to be both a good example for others, and an excellant way to invite others to join the faith. Christians who appear to not love their neighbors do not make for good recruiting. And Christians who appear to only care about protecting the unborn, but not the born, bring their own motives into question, and in turn cause others to question the faith they claim to represent.

Mr Beck is specifically telling people to view these ideas as “code words” for places which are as he would say, “Un American” , while what they really do is promote religious views at odds with his own views. He really doesn’t like it when people suggest Jesus did anything but admire the rich, because on Mr. Beck’s worldview, being wealthy is self-justifying.

 

[Michaeljc4]

And Christians who appear to only care about protecting the unborn, but not the born, bring their own motives into question, and in turn cause others to question the faith they claim to represent.

So, Phil, what do you make of a Christian who cares deeply about both the born and the unborn, but legitimately believes that the government is not the best way to help those who are in need? If I devote much of my time and energy toward helping those less fortunate than me, am I somehow less of a Christian because I don’t believe tax-funded programs emanating from DC are the most efficient way to address those issues?

Personally, I’d like to see many, many more of those on the political left who cry and moan the loudest over the plight of the poor do something other than offer up other people’s money to help them. Jesus didn’t say, “Createst thou a large federal government to redistribute wealth, and you will sit by my right hand in Heaven.” He told us, personally, to help the poor. That’s not to say that government doesn’t have a role; of course it does. But the first responders (for lack of a better term) need to be us as individuals.

Talk about an inconvenient truth.

 

[JulieAA]

I listen to Glenn Beck frequently. I believe that he is a very open and honest individual who truly loves his country. He is sick and tired of both parties because of all of the dishonesty among our politicians. All he has ever asked for is the truth! He sees our country leaving towards socialism and I agree with that statement.

 

[whitedozer]

I listen to Glenn. I have never heard him refer specifically to the Catholic Church. What he dislikes about social justice is the GOVERNMENT mandating or legislating or defining what charity should be via the church. Charity is something that comes from our hearts and America is the most charitable country in the world.

The government should not be TAKING from the “rich” whoever they are, to give to the “poor”, whoever the govt deems they be.

 

[Biggie]

Our Scripture and our Catechism demands that business, government AND the individual must work collectively for the common good of all humanity ESPECIALLY the poor, the sick, the children and the elderly. Our Constitution says that Federal govermnet has the right to collect taxes and distribute them for both defense and the general welfare of this nation. His Scripture and the Catechism validates the State’s right to tax BUT to use it for the common good of all men and especially the most vulnerable in society. As citizens we need to be more demanding that they use it for just causes and for ALL Americans.

The question is begged as to what is that common good. Is the professed intention or the actual outcome the correct measure? If you profess to work for the poor and pursue policies that in outcome advance poverty, deprive initiative, remove opportunity, balkanize society and make the poor dependent on the largess of the state, have you complied with Scripture and the Catechism?

I do not agree funding federal or even locally tax dollars for abortion or contreception just as Title X programs have done over the past decade (President Bush and Congress approved in 2003 and 2006). I definately do not support Federal funding in any health care bill of aboriton either. Thus I support the Hyde Amendment, The Stupak Amendement and any other Amendement that comes their way to prohibit Federal Funding of aboriton.

The Title X funding of Planned Parenthood by the Bush Administration as an example of a lack of commitment against abortion is a canard to the extent that no real opportunity exists to de-fund Planned Parenthood. It is simply wrong to represent that Republicans can accomplish reform by fiat, and that there is not substantial Democrat resistance to any such modification. So the Democrats create a situation where the funding is necessary on a “family planning” basis, obstruct opportunities to remove funding for abortion services and then accuse Republicans of hypocrisy on life issues. The canard is clearly revealed when one considers the fate of ammendments to Title X attempted by the Republicans, for example the following bill introduced by Mike Pence:

1/21/2009–Introduced.Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Service from providing any federal family planning assistance to an entity unless the entity certifies that, during the period of such assistance, the entity will not perform, and will not provide any funds to any other entity that performs, an abortion. Excludes an abortion where:
(1) the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or an act of incest against a minor; or
(2) a physician certifies that the woman suffered from a physical disorder, injury, or illness that would place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, including a condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy. Excludes hospitals from such requirement so long as the hospital does not provide funds to any non-hospital entity that performs an abortion.Requires the Secretary to annually provide Congress:
(1) information on grantees who performed abortions under the exceptions; and
(2) a list of entities to which grant funds are made available.

You fail to recognize that the absence of a prohibition against abortion funding in the current legislation is the equivalent of funding it. You also fail to recognize that the Hyde Amendment does not apply to the substantial monies being budgeted for community health clinics that provide abortions.

 

[JulieAA]

I listen to Glenn. I have never heard him refer specifically to the Catholic Church. What he dislikes about social justice is the GOVERNMENT mandating or legislating or defining what charity should be via the church. Charity is something that comes from our hearts and America is the most charitable country in the world.

The government should not be TAKING from the “rich” whoever they are, to give to the “poor”, whoever the govt deems they be.

Perfectly said!!

 

[Opelske]

Beck is an ex-Catholic. He never said though that you should run away from the Catholic Church. The Mormon Church preaches its own brand of social justice. I think the point he was trying to say is to stay away from individual local parishes and churches that preach socialism and the evils of capitalism. While I am a believer in the churches teachings on social justice, I also think capitalism is a good thing for the world. Like any man-made institution capitalism has flaws. I think though that socialism has more flaws than capitalism because socialism preaches an ideology that relies on the government to do all things instead of God. When you become dependent on the government, God becomes less necessary and you look to the government for answers and not your church. This is why my belief is that a limited government that restrains capitalism when it needs to be and imposes harsh penalties and individuals that defraud the public and do not abide by the contracts that they are bound by and a country that encourages personal charity and involvement in church groups that go about and care for the poor and in their teaching mission create a society that is bound by religion and morality. This is what the Founding Fathers intended. The Founding Fathers found it hard to separate religion from morality and saw churches as the way to keep man from misusing his freedom. The Founders believed in freedom with responsibility. Modern society believes in freedom without responsibility. We want a society that takes away religion and responsibility and wants morality only when it benefits ourselves. You cannot have a long lasting country without responsibility, religion and morality. This is why George Washington believed that a lack of religion was tantamount to treason. Religions regulate the passions and actions of mankind. Governments are a reflection of the moral and religious character of the nation. When you look at the government, you look at an institution that is a reflection of the values and sins of that culture. The sin today is to take God out of the equation altogether and replace God with the state. For men that look to God find hope in God and not the state. The modern secular values demand submission to the state. Government is called upon to solve every problem while God is relegated to the sidelines. God is the enemy of the state because God has the ultimate power over the rights of mankind and this power is what the government desires. The modern government desires to be god.

Well said. Also loved the Chesterton quote!

 

[Convert66]

I am still very interested in seeing any evidence for the charges made against Mr. Beck in this thread. To wit: he’s been characterized as “sociopathic”; “psychopathic”; “dangerous”; for all intents and purposes, inciting “deadly actions” in his regular listeners (an argument that exemplifies “guilt by association” and amounts to blaming the Columbine Massacre on Marilyn Manson and Rammstein rather than on Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris); preaching “hate” or “hateful judgements”; and that Beck views “…wealth as self-justifying”; etc.

I seem to recall something about bearing false witness being sinful.

All my best . . .

 

[catharina]

Is Glenn Beck trying to distance Catholics?

politicsdaily.com/2010/03/08/glenn-beck-urges-listeners-to-leave-churches-that-preach-social/

Glenn Beck is Mormon. It seems that many mormons are distant in their relationships with Catholics.
I can’t imagine Glenn Beck influencing any Catholic with his thoughts.

 

[JulieAA]

I am still very interested in seeing any evidence for the charges made against Mr. Beck in this thread. To wit: he’s been characterized as “sociopathic”; “psychopathic”; “dangerous”; for all intents and purposes, inciting “deadly actions” in his regular listeners (an argument that exemplifies “guilt by association” and amounts to blaming the Columbine Massacre on Marilyn Manson and Rammstein rather than on Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris); preaching “hate” or “hateful judgements”; and that Beck views “…wealth as self-justifying”; etc.

I seem to recall something about bearing false witness being sinful.

All my best . . .

As I said, Glenn Beck is an open and honest person seeking only truth. That is my take on him as we watch him every night…thank you DirectTV…LOL LOL

 

[josephdavid]

The question is begged as to what is that common good. Is the professed intention or the actual outcome the correct measure? If you profess to work for the poor and pursue policies that in outcome advance poverty, deprive initiative, remove opportunity, balkanize society and make the poor dependent on the largess of the state, have you complied with Scripture and the Catechism?

I am not sure what you mean that social programs make the poor dependent on the state. Could you define and add statistics of how much welfare programs such as food stamps, housing assistance make up of the government spending in means of the GDP? How long are people on welfare on average? Outside of unemployment for the past year and half how many Americans live under the welfare system ( I am not talking about the welfare system for wealth international corporations or the top 2% of the country)

What was the number of Americans living in poverty before 1965 and after? How many soon after? You do agree that you will never totally wipe out poverty? Humans make mistakes or greed will be subjecting some one into poverty.

The Title X funding of Planned Parenthood by the Bush Administration as an example of a lack of commitment against abortion is a canard to the extent that no real opportunity exists to de-fund Planned Parenthood. It is simply wrong to represent that Republicans can accomplish reform by fiat, and that there is not substantial Democrat resistance to any such modification. So the Democrats create a situation where the funding is necessary on a “family planning” basis, obstruct opportunities to remove funding for abortion services and then accuse Republicans of hypocrisy on life issues. The canard is clearly revealed when one considers the fate of ammendments to Title X attempted by the Republicans, for example the following bill introduced by Mike Pence:

Then do I read correctly that we both agree that neither political party has truly made a commitment to federal funding of abortion? I will give the Republicans for doing a far better job of regulating abortion. But with that point the CCC is cleer and thus I can not support either party. Outside of abortion what have they done for jobs, good wages, maintaining a good manufacturing base? What has either party done for the middle class which makes up 75% of the spending power and 95% of the population?

Where was the Catholic laity the past 30 years in shunning the corporations who while racing wages to the bottom have gone from 45:1 ration to 256:1 ration in regards to pay? How much of this compensation takes away from allowing employees earning a living wage which in result would increase true demand (versus demand by cheap credit). where were they when these same corporation and our politicians have been shipping work overseas and making trade deals with countries which have Communist and Military dictatorships which exploit their people with deplorable pay and working conditions. Not to mention raping the environment by pollution or agressive mining? These are life issues too. I may have digressed a bit haha but it is a parallel example.

You fail to recognize that the absence of a prohibition against abortion funding in the current legislation is the equivalent of funding it. You also fail to recognize that the Hyde Amendment does not apply to the substantial monies being budgeted for community health clinics that provide abortions.

That is why I support the Stupak Amendment and any other Amendment that will not fund any abortion. However we must remember some religions and especially some protestant brother and sisters do not agree that using contraceptive is against God’s law. I am truly sandened by it but I would be some what ok with at least letting contraceptives (NOT PLAN B… Plan B is abortion IMO).

 

[catharina]

As I said, Glenn Beck is an open and honest person seeking only truth. That is my take on him as we watch him every night…thank you DirectTV…LOL LOL

Although I might be mistaken, I think that Glenn Beck is a fallen-away Catholic who is now personally invested as a mormon. If this is fact, then I can’t imagine that Glenn Beck is seeking truth since he has walked away from truth and the Sacraments.

 

[josephdavid]

As I said, Glenn Beck is an open and honest person seeking only truth. That is my take on him as we watch him every night…thank you DirectTV…LOL LOL

Lets pray his rhetoric does not get some one killed. I will not be suprised some one will commit murder professing on what Glenn Beck says.

I hope I am wrong but I am seeing others speak like that and using terms of violent revolution.

 

[JulieAA]

Lets pray his rhetoric does not get some one killed. I will not be suprised some one will commit murder professing on what Glenn Beck says.

I hope I am wrong but I am seeing others speak like that and using terms of violent revolution.

I have never, ever heard Glenn Beck speak of hatred or violent revolutions! He has only spoke of getting to the truth from our politicians. Getting back to what the Founders had envisioned for our country. I have been listening to him for quite some time now.

 

[SoulRebel111]

I like Glenn Beck . I agree with alot of what he says. Not everything but alot. I think his slightly dorky kooky style works , but I could see why some people can only take him in small doses.

 

[jrabs]

Lets pray his rhetoric does not get some one killed. I will not be suprised some one will commit murder professing on what Glenn Beck says.

I hope I am wrong but I am seeing others speak like that and using terms of violent revolution.

You have seriously got to be kidding me!!!

I actually find your post highly inappropriate - disturbing actually. Violent revolutions? Who are you taking about because it is NOT Glenn Beck.

Have many people in this thread even watched Glenn Beck, listened to him or merely read an excerpt from the media? Gosh I wonder. I see such a lack of Christianity here.
There is a big difference in the excerpts taken out of context, as in this thread, and what Glenn is really referring to as Social Justice. The term has been grossly warped.