The following letter was in the pew at Church this morning:

Senator/Representative
Washington, DC 20510

June 23, 2018

Dear Senator/Representative,

As Congress works on the current budget and spending bills, I ask you to invest in key programs that reduce hunger, poverty and promote stability.

Our country and the world have made progress against hunger and poverty in recent decades. Please continue to invest in programs that promote such progress, programs like SNAP and tax credits for low-income workers and those programs that target world hunger and poverty. These programs also support our agricultural sector.

Our collective Faiths urges us forward in these good works.

Sincerely,


******************

There was an accompanying short video, in which the narrator claimed that we could end world hunger by 2030 [if only we increase government spending enough, presumably].

The ushers then went around collecting everyone's signed letters. I watched as they collected them. I was pleased to note that less than half the people there signed the letter. Entire pews were skipped because no one turned in a letter. You could tell the ushers and at least half the congregation were uncomfortable with this.

A friend of mine told me later that when he saw the letter in the pew, he got up and left, and did not stay for mass. I thought of it later, but I wish I had not only not signed it, but ripped it up in front of the usher and put it in the basket.

This push for socialism in the Church is getting out of hand.

Ah, priests taking cue from that socialist fuck the 'Pope'.

Suck it.

You found this at Church? Did they have a sermon about it?

I would have walked out.

I am sick of politics being pimped from the pulpit.

I am there to here the Word of God preached.

Don't the people pushing this crap know what's going on in Venezuela?

Many are Catholic because their parents were Catholic, it is just how they grew up.

Many are Democrats because their parents were Democrats, it is just how they grew up.

At some point in our life we all need to decide who we are, what are values are, and who we should be associated with.

Funny how every generation thinks they can end world problems that have been with us since the beginning of time. And, there are always charlatans that will take your money while promising to take care of others. You know - so that you won't have to.

But, in a Christian church??? Jesus said "The poor you will have with you always."

Take it from HIM - poverty and hunger are issues that will never be eradicated.

quote:

Jesus said "The poor you will have with you always."

That's exactly what I was thinking.

... and when the narrator said this could all be accomplished by 2030 I thought of Al Gore and his Global Warming time predictions.

quote:

Originally posted by kimber1911:
Many are Catholic because their parents were Catholic, it is just how they grew up.

Many are Democrats because their parents were Democrats, it is just how they grew up.

At some point in our life we all need to decide who we are, what are values are, and who we should be associated with.

I grew up Catholic. Still attend mass weekly (mostly). I'll continue to be Catholic and attend mass.

The people bringing politics into my religion should consider those implications and that all do not have the same priorities.

But, I won't let it dissuade my belief in Jesus Christ nor the one, true Catholic Chuch.

quote:

Our country and the world have made progress against hunger and poverty in recent decades.

In his January 1964 State of the Union address, President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed, “This administration today, here and now, declares unconditional war on poverty in America.”

In the 50 years since that time, U.S. taxpayers have spent over $22 trillion on anti-poverty programs. Adjusted for inflation, this spending (which does not include Social Security or Medicare) is three times the cost of all U.S. military wars since the American Revolution. Yet progress against poverty, as measured by the U.S. Census Bureau, has been minimal, and in terms of President Johnson’s main goal of reducing the “causes” rather than the mere “consequences” of poverty, the War on Poverty has failed completely. In fact, a significant portion of the population is now less capable of self-sufficiency than it was when the War on Poverty began.

https://www.heritage.org/pover...verty-after-50-years

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:
The following letter was in the pew at Church this morning:

Senator/Representative
Washington, DC 20510

June 23, 2018

Dear Senator/Representative,

As Congress works on the current budget and spending bills, I ask you to invest in key programs that reduce hunger, poverty and promote stability.

Our country and the world have made progress against hunger and poverty in recent decades. Please continue to invest in programs that promote such progress, programs like SNAP and tax credits for low-income workers and those programs that target world hunger and poverty. These programs also support our agricultural sector.

Our collective Faiths urges us forward in these good works.

Sincerely,

******************

...This push for socialism in the Church is getting out of hand.

Maybe this is one where I agree with the principle, just not the practice. I believe we have a moral obligation to help others, many of whom are down on their luck and would be blessed by some compassion, assistance, support, to improve their lives.

One problem is too many won't first help themselves, they maintain the habits and choices that cause their own problems. Too many want a hammock, not a safety net. Another problem is that too many pretend concern for the needy only to use the money and authority to serve themselves (the root of socialism). They are happy to spend other people's money (after they take their cut off the top), but they aren't so generous with their own money.

The end result is that the money spent does little to solve the problems, and often creates bigger problems than the few it solves.

I'm a Catholic but in a Military Community. Our Chaplis was a retired 13B. We don't get any of that shit.

They should actually talk to people in these countries and ask them what they think about the church aid.
When they dump "free" food in these countries they kill the local agriculture and economy. The food isn't really free is it? The farmer gets paid. The people who distribute it get paid. The politicians get paid. Everybody gets paid with tax free money.
You have to remember the whole Clinton / Haiti thing started when he was governor and Arkansas rice. Everyone won but the Haitians.

https://www.washingtontimes.co...lion-in-us-contract/

quote:

I believe we have a moral obligation to help others, many of whom are down on their luck and would be blessed by some compassion, assistance, support, to improve their lives.

Exactly right.

Church organizations, like the St. Vincent DePaul Society, do tremendous work to help others, many of whom are down on their luck.
That's charity. Corporal acts of mercy are a gift and a blessing.

Encouraging the congregation to turn over more and more responsibility to government isn't charity and it doesn't help to solve the problem, it only exacerbates it.

quote:

Originally posted by craigcpa:

quote:

Originally posted by kimber1911:
Many are Catholic because their parents were Catholic, it is just how they grew up.

Many are Democrats because their parents were Democrats, it is just how they grew up.

At some point in our life we all need to decide who we are, what are values are, and who we should be associated with.

I grew up Catholic. Still attend mass weekly (mostly). I'll continue to be Catholic and attend mass.

The people bringing politics into my religion should consider those implications and that all do not have the same priorities.

But, I won't let it dissuade my belief in Jesus Christ nor the one, true Catholic Chuch.

I concur but I'm not above the occasional walk-out.

So the church is asking it's members to support forcing people taxpayers to give money for charitable causes?

Force does NOT EQUAL charity!
Force ≠ charity

Not my intent to offend, it is just that the Catholic Church of today is not the Catholic Church I remember from my youth.

Churches change with time but the Bible remains the same.

Wow, that priest has some nerve. I'm a devout Catholic and shudder when I hear how many people can leave the Church and the Sacraments over a political disagreement. I would much rather be on the right side of a theological disagreement than a political one.

That being said, the beauty of the Church is that you can go to another Parish, receive the same Sacraments, and not be subject to a liberals nonsense. My priest is VERY conservative, politically and religiously.

quote:

Originally posted by Wilberforce:
I would have walked out.

I am sick of politics being pimped from the pulpit.

I am there to here the Word of God preached.

In Oregon, they plan to have a Sunday next month devoted to having everyone in various churches sign a petition to get an anti-gun measure on the state ballot.

They can go straight to hell.