blackforest
Well-known member
This program was under the threat of being cut.
Not an idol? OK. So Monsignor Pope must have written it for no reason. Or perhaps he actunally did notice something of concern?
Years back in the über liberal Seattle Archdiocese, a religious sister was interviewed by a priest on Catholic radio. Father asked her about her prayer life. "I let my work be my prayer" she said. Labora but no Ora. And there is the illness. She might as well work for government and get better, benefits and retirement.
Practicing Catholics, contributing individually - and not by force of law or being berated by the 'holier than thou' - further the Gospel AND feed the hungry AND clothe the homeless AND medicate those who are dying - Christian, Muslim and animist by supporting crucial African charities. Without cost or question. Without legislation. Without incessant condecension via progressive virtue signalling.
This is done quietly, without fanfare. That is social justice in real time, Christ made present.
This is basically how I was thinking when I first... just read the title of this thread.I wlll credit them with best intentions, but the results speak for themselves. What these misguided souls realized from decades of social activism is MORE poverty and LESS faith. The only solution in the prograssive leftist playbook is "full steam ahead"? The "Reporter" is notoriously unfaithful and progressive-secular leftist.
Monsignor Charles Pope writes a caution aginst this modern idol:
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Beware the Strangest Idol of All - A Reflection on How Even Works of Charity Cannot Eclipse Obedience to Christ - Community in Mission
There is a passage in the gospels that breaks conventions and cuts to the core of what has come to be called the “Social Gospel.” Before looking at the passage we need to define “Social Gospel.” The phrase “Social Gospel” emerged in the Protestant denominations but has also come to be used in...blog.adw.org
This is basically how I was thinking when I first... just read the title of this thread.
The Church's primary concern is supposed to be getting people to Heaven. I help homeless people when I can. . . .
I'm sure you read my post? I said that I help the downtrodden. I'm just tired of clergy doing ONLY that when they are NOT teaching such things as: not fornicating.. not being homosexual.We can't get into Heaven without serving the less fortunate. But I'm sure you've read Matthew 25 a few times and already know this.
I understand what you're saying. I had parents who would go to Mass every Sunday, dragging their kids with them (we didn't have a clue how important the Church was until later.. if then) but then I recall my mother saying something snarky about homeless people. Well, I don't know if it sinks to the level of actual snark, but she didn't sound too charitable while she said it.. something about how there is no excuse for them not to be clean. Well, she had a point. Soap and water is ubiquitous in society... but still.. Again, it was her rather hateful tone that I noticed.I don't even know where to begin. It's not an "idol" - it's a commandment, i.e. necessitating - what does the Archbishop call it? Ah yes! - obedience to Christ. I can't believe he's even trying to make these concepts dichotomously opposed.
I'm glad to see the bigger picture; this era of Catholics who'd rather clutch their pearls over the Sign of the Peace or what someone is wearing to Mass than the homeless woman in the street will soon come to an end. We'll just have a lot of explaining to do to our Maker when it does.
I enjoyed reading the 1st part of your post but find myself bewildered about the 2nd part.. the part that begins withNot an idol? OK. So Monsignor Pope must have written it for no reason. Or perhaps he actunally did notice something of concern?
Years back in the über liberal Seattle Archdiocese, a religious sister was interviewed by a priest on Catholic radio. Father asked her about her prayer life. "I let my work be my prayer" she said. Labora but no Ora. And there is the illness. She might as well work for government and get better, benefits and retirement.
So many anti-poverty program have contributed to increased poverty. How is more of the same an act of charity? Attributed to Albert Einstein is the expressioin, "Trying the same experiment and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity." A fresh approach is needed, rather than more state and federal tax dollars paying for more war and bloodshed (abortion) and transgender surgery.
I wonder how many African charities these fine liberals (and those at the "Reporter") contribute to - when not lobbying congress to tax this retired social security cancer patient higher? I wonder how many lobby for the reintroduction of western (or any) values into our schools?
Practicing Catholics, contributing individually - and not by force of law or being berated by the 'holier than thou' - further the Gospel AND feed the hungry AND clothe the homeless AND medicate those who are dying - Christian, Muslim and animist by supporting crucial African charities. Without cost or question. Without legislation. Without incessant condecension via progressive virtue signalling.
This is done quietly, without fanfare. That is social justice in real time, Christ made present.