Politics in the pulpit

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But it does allow a priest to clearly point out moral rights and wrongs of the world that he lives in. It’s a priests duty to preach to the morality of the catholic faith. Morality is connected strongly to politics.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
Perhaps on the basis that a homily is meant to explain the Scriptures to us?
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Yes… and no. Strictly speaking, homilies aren’t Bible studies. Ideally, the homilist starts with the Scripture, points to the application in the present-day situation in the community in which the Mass is taking place, and point us to the Eucharist. Here’s the problem, though: by and large, Catholic congregations aren’t familiar enough with Scripture, and so, as a result, homilists have to spend a bulk of the time in remedial work, talking about what’s going on in Scripture. And only then can they turn to the other facets of a homily.

So… if Paul talks about leadership, or Christian morality, that’s a perfect opportunity (these days) to segue into a homily about Christian ethics vis-a-vis responsibility as a citizen.
Tis_Bearself said:
Of course, if the readings related to citizenship in some way it could work.
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Not only citizenship. I bet I could take just about any day’s readings and find a good opportunity to talk morality and ethics and Catholic responsibility in voting.

I highly recommend watching these videos.
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“Message to Stupid Catholics” ?!?!?!?!?
🤦‍♂️
Nice. 😦
Feanor2 said:
A Catholic cannot vote for a candidate because of their pro-choice position but a Catholic may in spite of that if they believe there are proportionate reasons to support their candidate
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Ding ding ding! We have a winner! That’s precisely the teaching of the Church!

The ‘proportionality’ doesn’t come into play in the act; it comes into play in the discernment of the candidates’ actions if elected. If a so-called “pro-life candidate” does little to nothing to stem the tide of abortion, what’s the difference between that candidate and his “pro-choice” opponent?
 
Gorgias said:
If a so-called “pro-life candidate” does little to nothing to stem the tide of abortion, what’s the difference between that candidate and his “pro-choice” opponent?
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And a step further, what if the pro-choice opponent is arguably fighting to measures which may reduce the number of abortions? I realize some of those methods may have other implications for Catholic voters, but if abortion truly is the “preeminent” issue as (name removed by moderator) stated then issues of condom use and such intrinsically come second. But even those aside, fighting poverty, improving education, and lots of other social programs which are more heavily associated with the left are frequently shown to reduce the number of abortions.

Where you personally agree with those programs, agree that they help, etc isn’t really the point, simply that one could reasonably believe they do, and as you pointed out weighed against a pro-choice but ineffective in that area candidate, it’s not a black and white issue.
 
MagdalenaRita said:
You have to watch the video to understand what he is referring to. Its very good
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So… either he’s not orienting the video to the “stupid Catholics” but to those who already agree with him (in which case he’s merely being uncharitable) or he is orienting the video to an audience whom he’s calling stupid (in which case, “pot, meet kettle” might apply – I mean, “catch more flies with honey than vinegar”, right?).

Hmm…
🤔
 
I wouldn’t be allowed to call another Catholic “stupid” on this forum, so I’m certainly not going to give a Youtube hit/ view to a priest who does it as some sort of attention-getting device.
 
MagdalenaRita said:
You have to watch the video to understand what he is referring to.
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Just watched it. Nope, he’s not only calling Catholics “stupid”, he’s trying to back it up with Scripture. Does the NAB use the term “stupid”? Yep.
  • Does the RSV-CE? Nope: “O foolish Galatians!”
  • Does the Vulgate? Nope: “O insensati Galatæ,”
    • “insensati” means “irrational”. (“Stupidus” or “stultus” is ‘stupid’ in Latin.)
  • Does the Koine Greek? Nope: “Ὦ ἀνόητοι Γαλάται,”.
    • ἀνόητοι means “foolish”. Etymologically, it means “not thinking”. (μωρός would be ‘stupid’ in Koine Greek.)
So… “stupid”? Well, what would we call the approach of insulting folks whom you hope to convince of your point of view, then?
 
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Gorgias said:
Is that because he’s recommending that you don’t vote for the candidate you prefer, by chance?
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No, it’s because I don’t want anyone to presume to tell me how to vote, regardless of whose side is supported.
 
on_the_hill said:
No, it’s because I don’t want anyone to presume to tell me how to vote, regardless of whose side is supported.
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But he didn’t, by your own account! He didn’t tell you, right? He merely pointed out salient arguments toward the discernment of a decision. Now it’s up to you to pray, discern, and decide your course of action.

Isn’t that what we want of our religious leadership?
 
We are not to bear false witness.

One may disagree with a candidate or party, however, making outlandish unprovable claims only weakens one’s voice.

It is okay to admit to making a false statement.
 
BartholomewB said:
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umamibella:
There is free speech in USA
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It’s a question of tax exemption for churches. Freedom of speech allows a priest to say whatever he wants in his homilies, but if next Sunday he slips in a thirty-second plug for Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, or the Starbucks conveniently located right opposite the church, or MAGA hats, or that nice Kamala Harris, he may find his church reclassified as a commercial business and be hit for big bucks in back taxes.
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Do Black churches not worry about this? Seriously


 
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27lw said:
Do Black churches not worry about this? Seriously
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From the article you cited:
Evangelicals and Protestants from historically black churches—both represented at the recent rally—are the only major religious traditions that still want faith communities to “express their views” on social and political issues.
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There’s no problem “expressing views on social and political issues”. The problem comes when you campaign for a party or a candidate.

What about the church visit? Let’s see…
While many politicians “make a pit stop at church,” Young noted, Biden and his campaign officials underscored that he planned to “come and worship” at New Hope, not just make a speech. Biden, who is Catholic, spoke for about 15 minutes near the end of the service.
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The former vice president spoke at the end of a two-hour service. He recalled watching police blast civil rights activists in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963 and how that footage shocked and galvanized the nation into passing the Civil Rights Act.

Biden said he felt a similar call to action in 2016, when white supremacists rallied in Charlottesville, Virginia — “veins bulging, spewing hate” — and President Donald Trump did not unilaterally condemn the white supremacists after an anti-racism protester was killed.
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Talking about current events? Worshiping at a service? Not an issue, wouldn’t you say?
 
Oh yes, when I visit a Church when I’m campaigning out of state, then I definitely think it’s usual practice for me to get up and express my views for 15 minutes.
Yup.
Especially when I’m Catholic and I’m visiting a Protestant Church.
 
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27lw said:
Oh yes, when I visit a Church when I’m campaigning out of state, then I definitely think it’s usual practice for me to get up and express my views for 15 minutes.
Yup.
Especially when I’m Catholic and I’m visiting a Protestant Church.
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Sure… but there’s sufficient activity there to say “I came to pray and talk about civil rights.”
 
I don’t know…
“I came to pray and talk about civil rights, right before the election in which I am running for office.
To a church and denomination that I normally don’t attend. That the pastor gave me a 15-minute platform to speak.”

Doesn’t hold any water with me, personally.
And meanwhile Catholic priests are afraid to mention candidates by name?
 
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Abortion rights s the stage the party stands on. The other things are just planks. I can’t continue a conversation with someone who can’t recognize the Democrat fascination with infanticide and sex.
 
Can’t stand politics in the pulpit. I tend to avoid certain parishes for this very reason.
 
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