Surely, Pope Francis mentioned Lincoln because he was addressing the U.S. Congress, but his very presence and his message spoke of what was unsaid. Maybe not everyone gets this, but I wouldn’t read anything into what the pope did not specifically say to the Congress. The event was televised, but he was there only because he was invited to address the U.S. Congress. He did so in his customary pastoral way.
Lol, if he’s anything like me, it would have been low on his list of things he feels comfortable doing. I got the feeling that this kind of thing isn’t his favorite. But, he’s holier than me and equipped for it.
I can’t speak for others, but for me he’s very hard to understand because he seems to keep fueling the fire when it comes to the misquote or bad translations or whatever they are. He keeps putting these things out there knowing the press is going to run with wild with them, and usually he doesn’t work very hard at correcting them. I am not very old (35), so John Paul II is the first pope for me but I can’t recall him being constantly misquoted. Pope Benedict didn’t seem to have that problem either. They didn’t make comments ever other day for the press to do that. I really was happy when he became Pope. I was happy because he seemed (and still seems) to be an advocate for the poor. But when he makes comments that easily get twisted to a different meaning yet never seems to learn that his comments are going to be used as ammunition against Catholics it is disheartening. How often have we all heard “Who am I to judge?” As a mom of 8 I hear daily that the pope says catholic women should not reproduce like rabbits. Did he say these things? Yes. Are the taken out of context? Of course they are. The problem I have and what I can’t understand is WHY he keeps making these remarks knowing they are going to be used against us. I also don’t understand why he doesn’t mention things that are important like the abortion and gay marriage. I agree with him that we live in a disposable society. I’ve stated that myself many times. What’s difficult are the remarks he keeps putting out there that are used against Catholics. By now I think he should know better and work to prevent that from happening. That is what I can’t understand
That would make two of us…a hurdle race over the seats of Congress away from cameras towards the exit !!:coolinoff:
That is the past…a past that has seen almost all peoples migrate, conquer, be conquered, enslave, and be enslaved…I’m not talking about them…I’m talking about us…at least those of us who can understand that all societies evolve…who live here and now, and don’t want to lose our nations, our heritage, and our future because somebody else, for whatever reason they can rationalize, believes they have the right to take it away from us…as payback.
Thank you for this. I will try to get a copy of the book and find time to read more. It’s hard finding time to read having kids.
Now that the Holy Father has called for the death penalty to be abolished, is there any way CCC 2267 can be changed to remove that clause where it says cases when the death penalty is necessary are very rare and instead just have it say it should be abolished?
I am 3/4 American Indian. My dad is full blooded, my mom is half and half irish. My husband is full blooded Indian and immigrated from Mexico. We both agree with everything you wrote. That’s why we are an army family. My dad was army, just like his brothers all were too. People don’t seem to remember that the Aztecs were ripping people’s hearts out when they were conquered, and my ancestors were far from Christian too.
I feel exactly as you do, bitterhope.
I think what is necessary is to realize Pope Francis did not create this problem. He has had nothing whatever to do with creating the immigration problem in the U.S., and the U.S. government has not effectively addressed this issue for the past thirty years, while U.S. businesses were employing millions of the immigrants from Latin America. In effect, the U.S. government, through successive presidents from both parties, has effectively permitted this situation to occur. What is it Pope Francis is asking? Is it not to treat these people with dignity and respect. They are here. Pope Francis did not bring them here.
It’s not just the US government and businesses. In lots of states like California, average citizens employ illegal immigrants from Mexico to do their gardening, put new roofs on their houses, and many other labor intensive jobs that they would have a hard time finding any legal resident to do for the same cheap price. Businesses probably use these people to do all sorts of back-breaking agricultural work, often in the hot sun, that no US citizen would do.
It probably should be modified. But what John Paul II actually promulgated was that while the death penalty is only rarely necessary, in advanced societies such as the U.S. it would ‘virtually never’ be justified.
I think we Texans have always had a little more understanding. We have the privilege of knowing more of these “invaders” in person and that always lessens ignorance. Also, we have the rather unique position of being from the state where illegal immigrants once crossed into Mexico, along with legal immigrants. Though it started out as Spain, then Mexico, then we had the dictator, but the point is, many of the crossers like Davy Crockett swimming the Sabine instead of the Rio Grande. Then we also started by fighting and dying alongside Mexican nationals here in Texas. Heck, many Texans were legally nationalized Mexicans.
I do not think there is any question that his address on the topic of abortion was weak, and it was not lengthy. But that was not his main point. He was strong on other issues.
Thank you…when everyone tells you you’re crazy, sometimes you start to believe it…and thank you for having such a beautiful, generous, and giving family…God bless all of you for the sacrifices you have made, and for the service you have done for our nation. I know there are so many more like you, and wish there were even more…families like yours will be the salvation of our nation, God willing…Thank you all again…
There you go again, using exclusive language (“sole focus”) to describe a position that no pro-life advocate holds.
If the Pope is speaking to post-Christians in post-Christian language, this might explain why I have failed to understand him.