-
I have been a Catholic all of my life. I do not know how to be anything other than a Christian. I am comfortable with this label and I have tried to learn what it means to be a practicing Catholic Christian. I guess that is why it amazes me when politicians, who also claim to be practicing Catholics, make outrageous statements. Frequently their rants begin with tolerance. I have searched the Bible extensively for the passages about tolerance but can find none. I think that tolerance is probably a good trait to have when it comes to dealing with others but it must be tolerance that is grounded in truth and ethics. Tolerance of evil is never good and should not be accepted. The Catholic Church itself tells us that we do have free will to make our own decisions but the dichotomy is between good and evil, not about cafeteria menu decision making. Nancy Pelosi declared that she is a practicing Catholic and Elizabeth Lev wrote a column about the egregious missteps taken by Mrs. Pelosi during her confessions. One of them centered on her very different idea of free will. Mrs. Pelosi does indeed get confused and thinks that God has given her the power to make moral decisions for all of us as long as she feels they are right. What Catholic Church did she go to growing up? Does she still attend Mass today? I think she is in need of a good spiritual adviser or at the least, a good elementary catechism teacher. The Catholic Church teaches, built on the words of Jesus in the Bible, that abortion is murder. It is the taking of another human life and that is intrinsically evil. I also discovered in the Lev article that Mrs. Pelosi had made a trip to the Vatican in February 2009 and requested a visit with Pope Benedict. Her version of the visit and his deviate greatly. She claims that the conversation centered on global warming and fighting poverty. Pope Benedict released a statement, prior to Mrs. Pelosi's, that stated that the conversation was more instructional in nature. Specifically the release said, "His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church's consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development." So the problem here appears to be one of listening. As you know, I am a serious adherent to the epistle of St. James. It would certainly behoove Mrs. Pelosi to spend some quality time with this very Catholic book in the Bible. It is amazing what we can learn just by listening.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Doctrinal Clarity, Not Change: Unpacking the Note on Marian Titles

-
Image
The release of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s note, Mater Populi Fidelis , on November 4, 2025, seems to have sparked some immediate and widespread confusion, driven largely by sensationalist headlines from secular sources. In response to requests, particularly surrounding a potential Fifth Marian Dogma of Spiritual Maternity , the DDF addressed the usage of titles like Co-redemptrix and Mediatrix. Unfortunately, this has led to a large contingent online and in the media claiming that the Church has "tossed out" centuries of doctrine, with some outside the Church even proclaiming a "victory" over Catholic teaching (This may be the saddest part of it all, that we as Christians, are "competing" with each other). It is essential to understand that this doctrinal note is fundamentally about titles and clarity, not doctrine and change according to the Vatican News. The true teachings regarding Mary's unique role in salvation remain inviolabl...
Read more

Finding St Anthony Among the Lost Items

-
Image
Saint Anthony of Padua, though often associated with finding lost articles, was primarily known in his lifetime as a powerful and eloquent preacher. Originally a Canon Regular of St. Augustine, he was inspired to join the newly formed Franciscan order after witnessing the martyrdom of the first Franciscan missionaries in Morocco. His conversion to the mendicant life under St. Francis of Assisi transformed him, deepening his commitment to poverty, humility, and evangelical preaching. Gifted with profound theological knowledge and a captivating speaking style, he traveled across Italy and France, drawing immense crowds with his clear and passionate sermons, converting many and combating heresy with his unwavering faith and intellectual rigor. Beyond his public ministry, St. Anthony was a mystic who enjoyed profound spiritual experiences, most notably a vision of the Infant Jesus. This intimate connection with the Christ Child is a hallmark of his iconography, often depicting him c...
Read more

Jesus Came to End Death and to Build a Church

-
Image
The twelve apostles chosen by Jesus formed the bedrock of the early Church , and their Catholic identity is deeply rooted in their direct relationship with Christ and the mission He entrusted to them. The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights this foundational role, stating that Jesus "instituted the Twelve as 'the seeds of the new Israel and the beginning of the sacred hierarchy'" ( CCC 860 ). These men were not simply followers; they were handpicked by Jesus, lived intimately with Him, witnessed His miracles and teachings firsthand, and were specifically commissioned to preach the Gospel to all nations ( Matthew 28:19-20 ). Their unique position as eyewitnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and their reception of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, established them as the authoritative leaders of the nascent Church, a reality echoed in the writings of early Church Fathers like Ignatius of Antioch, who emphasized the apostles' authority as repre...
Read more