quote:

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.

It's a good point. Not every parish is doing this sort of thing.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:...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:

Force does NOT EQUAL charity!

Bolding mine, hope you don't mind.

quote:

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

I wouldn't let it dissuade my belief. But it would dissuade me from exercising said belief within the confines of that particular church.

And the command to show 'charity' (sometimes translated as 'love') to the poor is an individual command each of us is to choose to follow. By passing off this responsibility to government, they are wanting to 'render unto Caesar' what is supposed to be 'rendered unto God'.

I was baptized and raised Catholic by Italian parents.
I am a firm believer in helping those who are less fortunate than me with assistance to pull themselves up to make a better life for them and their families. When I hear "The Church" preaching this *&(*& I stop and ask why doesn't the Pope sell off the Billions of dollars worth of paintings, jewelry and other items that are housed in the Vatican to help the poor? Better yet, while he is working on it why doesn't he take in all the refugees as well??

I have a hard time believing people who say "Do as I say, not as I do.."

The "War on Poverty" officially kicked off in 1964 with LBJ.
It's been 54 years, we have about 50% more people and the percentage of "poor" is roughly the same.
After we've spent $22 TRILLION to help those people.
Time for a new approach.

quote:

Originally posted by 220-9er:
The "War on Poverty" officially kicked off in 1964 with LBJ.
It's been 54 years, we have about 50% more people and the percentage of "poor" is roughly the same.
After we've spent $22 TRILLION to help those people.
Time for a new approach.

Watch this if you get a chance. It is eye opening. You can watch it on Amazon Prime or Netflix.

https://www.povertyinc.org/

I would have balled it up and thrown it like a snowball at the priest or minister.

This is why socialism is evil. It employs evil means, coercion or taking the property of one person, to accomplish good ends, helping one's fellow man. Helping one's fellow man in need, by reaching into one's own pockets, is a laudable and praiseworthy goal. Doing the same through coercion and reaching into another's pockets has no redeeming features and is worthy of condemnation.

-- Walter E. Williams
Evil Concealed by Money, 19 November 2008

quote:

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.

I pretty much have the belief that we must/need to help others. Having said that, I see little need for such actions in this country! Food stamps, etc etc ad nauseum and nothing has reduced the level of so-called poverty.

Next time yo go to wally world watch the checkout lines.

Wife and I comment on this from time to time.

I see dozens of "immigrants" checking out with baskets full of luxury items. After all the eligible items are taken care of, the "luxury" items come up. Those are paid for in wads of cash. And I have seen them pull out a wad of $100 bills to pay.

What is the current % of "welfare" recipients in this country? I seem to recall from not all that long ago, that 40% of our population was on some form of gubbermint assistance.

I wonder how many of those would get off their dead asses and get a fucking job if all that free shit was stopped.

Oh, and the latest? Some dingbat broad from sillywood is going on a hunger strike to protest Trump's actions to deal with the "immigrant" issue. She promises to do her strike for a whole 24 hours! Imagine the impact of that!!

You want to do a hunger strike? Fine, see me in about 45 days when you have lost about 50% of your body weight!

Perhaps the Cardinals could sell their ruby rings and use that to help?

"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."

Already being done. We are rebuilding the military, securing our borders and we cut taxes. Noticed the economy and unemployment lately?

You're welcome.

Sincerely,

Donald J. Trump


P.S. Jesus didn't tell you subordinate your personal responsibility to the government. He said for YOU to look out for others. Look around you, if someone needs help, help them. Stop waiting for the government to do it.


.

I've never seen crap like that in our church. Sermons sometimes talk in general about helping the poor, but they're typically tied in with the day's Gospel. I do not know if our priest is conservative or liberal, but he's smart enough to avoid "delicate" topics.

However, the Davenport Diocese newspaper is full of BS articles like "We are all immigrants," etc. It reads like the Demokratic talking points except for that pesky abortion thing.

Here's an example:

http://www.catholicmessenger.n...mpacted-by-ice-raid/

Yes, the govt taking money from me and giving it to others is NOT charity, it is socialism.

Tell your pastor the letter affected you so much that you will now give the money you used to give to his parish, to the poor.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:

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.

Exactly.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:
Force does NOT EQUAL charity!
Force ≠ charity

I think some religious leaders, in their zeal to follow Christ's principles, miss or ignore Christ's method. His method is gentle persuasion to do right. He taught true principles and gently persuaded His followers to practice them. Now, why is it important to practice Christ's principles? Answer: In doing so we refine our character and edify ourselves as well as those in our sphere of influence. None of this happens when compulsion is introduced. To your point, Compelled donations are not charity. Charity, true charity, edifies the recipient and the donor when the motive to participate comes from within. Charity is the true principle. Wealth redistribution is a false principle that destroys natural incentive and initiative. It stunts gratitude and grace. It promotes entitlement and resentment. I think your church leader is unfamiliar with the true principle of charity.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:

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.

Amen. Great points, Gentlemen.



.

quote:

Originally posted by ChuckWall:
Perhaps the Cardinals could sell their ruby rings and use that to help?

But having that brings them closer to 'god'.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
Ah, priests taking cue from that socialist fuck the 'Pope'.

Suck it.

#NotMyPope

John Paul II was a tough act to follow. Each of them since has been a Pope-Light. In the end, priests are like everyone else, there are liberals and there are conservatives. Unfortunately, they each are a representative of the Church and the liberals, like all liberals, think everyone should think like they do. My pastor happens to be pretty conservative but we have had some, who were flying the church flag upside down during the Vietnam war and another giving a homily and referring to actions in the Middle East as "unjust wars". The biggest problem we have now is the importation of priests from foreign countries to deal with the priest shortage. Their political views are not the issue, it's their accents. Many are from Africa and their accents are so heavy, I only get about every fifth word of the homily. Apparently, I'm not the only one having the problem. In one church, upon entry, I was handed, what I thought was a hymn sheet. Turns out it was a printout of the priest's homily for that Sunday in case you wanted to understand what he was saying. LOL !

Heard this as a young man:

The church isn't a showcase for saints, it's a hospital for sinners.

I am an Italian Catholic, was an altar boy, Catholic grammar school and then Jesuit High School.

Born in '55, I am pre Vatican II, which IMO was the turning point into outright destruction of the Catholic church in as far as morals go.

Having had a bad go of things when I was young and my parents were divorcing. Owing to a corrupt priest (liberal) that tried to manipulate me into a family resolution I could not abide by, I left the church, but not my belief in God.

Organized religion is populated with humans and the foibles that are associated with them.

This socialist agenda must be stopped and ironically enough, for the very reasons they are selling it on.