Religion, Politics, and Intolerance
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- Friends, what is the role of religion in civic life? Must we bracket religion from the political sphere? Those are pressing questions as we near the midterm elections. On today’s “Word on Fire Show,” Brandon Vogt and I discuss the relationship between politics and religion and the proper place of tolerance.
A listener asks, do you have any recommendations for explaining the Eucharist to high schoolers?
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As someone battered senseless by the abuses of so many Catholic leaders, it feels good to hear such words of reason, and such respect for argument. I could quibble, as usual, but sometimes it’s better only to listen. Thank you, and please keep going.
Bishop Barron taught my Parish Priest, Father Patrick, Aurora,Illinois. My talks with FR Patrick brought my back to the Church 🙏
This was excellent. We are seriously lacking this kind of teaching with such clarity in the Church of England. If only I could buy Bishop Barron a pint and have a chat
Better than buying Bishop Barron a pint reach out to a local Catholic parish and talk to a Catholic priest. You’ll find they’re more accessible and open to talking to you. Peace be with you!
If your looking for this sort of teaching within Anglicanism, find a Continuing Anglican church in your area. Good luck and God bless! +
@@Aidan_Spalding Thanks Aidan. God bless you too
You might enjoy listening to pints with Aquinas!
Brilliant logic as always: asking people to take responsibility for their decisions by exercising reason informed by faith.
one of the best analogies I heard is a parent loving their child, despite not affirming every thing they want to do (especially dangerous things) - ergo, wanting the best for their child.
Thank you for the explanation of how the Eucharistic actually is the body and blood of our Lord. Thank you for all your wonderful insights. God bless you all.
Just in time for topics to talk about with
extended family at Thanksgiving dinner! But seriously, I look forward to Bp Barron's typically balanced and
helpful approach to such issues. AMDG
WoW! Very very enlightening video , explanation from Bishop Barron ….thank you so much and may God bless you all Amen 🙏
Thank you Bishop Baron pls pray for Scotland 🏴
@Peace Love. Thanks for your request for prayers for Scotland. I, too, coming from the West Coast know only too well the courage required to live my faith publicly. I admit I can tend to 'hide my light under a bushel', but now really is the time to trust God. If they hated His Son they will hate us, but it's not always easy to be persecuted for your faith. I need to remind myself constantly that to love is to will the good of the other, and not to be complacent. 🙏🏴
How inspiring is that "Christian values are about love, not tolerance".
I thought that poignant too.
How does Christ tolerate man?
@@gemeinschaftsgeful ñchrist is love
I dont preach my sins only the one who has no sins, so we all stop sinning
@@gemeinschaftsgeful By dying on a cross for him. Christ himself is man, so he understands perfecty well what it means.
I really appreciate you covering this topic! Especially with all the reporting about Christian Nationalism. I feel like everyone’s getting defensive and this is a good resource
Hi from Ireland. Thank you both for setting up this topic of conversation, very helpful
God Bless you Bishop! We need to stand up at christians, as Catholics and voice our position and Christ’s words…be bold and go forth
Brandon What A Fortunate Guy :To Be Able for To Have A Thomas Aquinas Mind At Your ... Access ... So Be Blessed 🌹 Shalom
Thank you for the video Bishop Barron!
I agree with bishop barron. Political candidates don't follow their conscience, they follow whatever their party tells them to say, that's how I believe our 2 party system works.
But is that the right thing to do?....just do what the majority of your constituents want? Bishop Barron...be a Martyr not a hand puppet of bleeding heart socialism for votes.
@@cheechak481 am I misinterpreted? I seems you reiterated what I said. I was saying I believe that's how our 2 party political system works
@@cheechak481 I did edit my text if you are wondering how it's different
God bless you Bishop Barron, you are the GOAT.
I especially liked the question on substance & appearance of the Eucharist & the response. Timely for a Bible study on that subject in a parish group to which I belong. Thank you.
Great discussion. Thank you Brandon and Bishop Barron.
Bishop Barron- could you do a video on abortion and the Catholic view? There are so many people that think it's okay to be Catholic and pro-choice. You always explain things well, and people listen to you. Thanks!
He did one recently on Biden's unacceptable stance on abortion. It was very refreshing to hear at last!
my dad told me to watch this. it was very interesting. i don't agree with most of it but it was nice and clear and the Bishop seems like a good person.
Religion and politics...the art... beauty...and reality of it... keep it simple... there's beauty in them...makes life meaningful..life on the brighter side.. thanks and God bless Word on Fire...
I certainly understand the Church's unwillingness to endorse a political party and that all the different social and moral positions need to be weighed, and I agree with Bishop Barron that issues that directly affect life, like abortion, should hold considerable weight in our voting decisions.
I do think that another helpful clarification on this is you should not be voting for a candidate BECAUSE they hold a position that is against the Church's teaching. For example, if you vote for a pro-choice candidate, it should be because you've weighed all their political positions and your conscience has dictated that they're still the best candidate in spite of being pro-choice. But you should not vote for them BECAUSE they are pro-choice.
God bless you, Bishop Robert Barron.❤
Thank you very much Bishop. God bless you always 🕊️✝️🙏❤️
If you tolerate everything, _you'll stand for nothing._
Don’t be so open minded that your brains fall out. -GKC
Jesus didnt just tolerate me, he loved me. Thats what i want to do with others!
@Stefano- what’s your point? God loves us unconditionally, however He will judge us justly according to our behavior.
Beware that the deceiver does not use that to get you to hate others or to play God and " help" them frame a person. They do that all the time. They find out from you where the person will be and have a false accuser waiting to tell lies.
Or form deceptions on the innocence person YOU helped to frame.
““I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
Revelation 3:15-16
I learned this around 25 and I’ve made my choice and marked my line. I’ve chosen Christ. Now let whatever come, come.
Bishop Barron, you are the star :)
I really do love Bishop Barron and I do credit him with helping me return to the faith, this episode is no exception.
If I do have one critique for his Excellency it is that he does not talk about sin and its consequences enough.
Because there is no point in doing that. What is most important is that almost any sin is forgivable. Repent is the key, but not repent where you feel sad for cheating your wife (like Judas after betraying Jesus). True repent is getting reborn in Christ-metanoia.
Thank you.
*Bishop Robert Barron:* The Church's role is not to be directly involved in political life, yet it's to bring to bear for sure the spiritual and moral dimension of life so that it influences and affects the political conversation.
At the end, Bishop Barron talked about the importance of the value of life when considering voting. I certainly agree with the bishop, but I think he missed a very important point that epitomizes much of Catholic teaching. That would be the importance of the family and a politician's policies (or agenda) regarding the protection of the family - father, mother and children. IMO...This should be weighed heavily when considering voting for a political candidate.
I completely agree what you said here 20:54. It's exactly my same thoughts...
This is excellent
Thanks and God bless you Bishop Barron! I'd like to offer Reed Linton (sp?) a suggestion on how to teach his students about the accidents and substance of the Eucharist. I've used this before with my students (old and young): I take a piece of Exlax and a piece of regular chocolate that looks the same (rectangular or square) and, without sharing which is which, I ask them to describe both (the accidents). I have them look, feel, and smell (not taste!) each piece. After having a discussion about what they see, feel, and smell I expose the wrappers of each to disclose their true substance. We typically end with a discussion around trust...and whether or not they trust that what I am giving them is chocolate and not a laxative...and then we enjoy the chocolate! I always give the disclaimer that no analogy if perfect but this one seems to get the message across that what looks, feels, smells, and tastes like chocolate...is actually a medication...just like the Eucharist! God bless you all!
My relationship with God is the bedrock of my heart and conscience; too often, I fail meet God’s standards, but when I am at my best I attempt to channel the love commanded of us all into everything that I do.
With that said, I voted for Democratic candidates this season because I believed those individuals on my ballot would bring the most good into people’s lives, given my options. Whoever you vote for, follow your heart and do what you truly believe to be right, and do not succumb to social pressure that asks anything less of you. God bless all of you, and our country.
I was glad to hear Cardinal Dolan lambasting an Italian (unnamed) church that wrote him the most hateful letters and comments about the church wanting to use a closed school for immigrant children (archdiocese would pay)He wished he could put something on the church that meant it was spiritually dead because of the intolerance and hatefulness toward innocent people.
Thank you, Bishop! Hope everyone comes to understand that the word "catholic" actually means "universal", and that Jesus gave His eleven remaining disciples the mission to make disciples of every nation, to baptize and teach them to do that which He commanded. (Matthew 28:16-20 NAB)
Totally love that the Catholic Church, which Jesus founded in 33 A.D, is that through which God offers His grace to us through His seven Sacraments, which help us to receive He Who Is God and our daily Bread of Life worthily, as He said we must do to have life in us.
Thank you Bishop Barron for the inspiring talk. How far should we as catholics be involved in politics? Should we spend effort influencing policy towards a culture of love that is aligned with Catholic social teachings?
Accurate. Might I suggest that we recognise that though the idea and the person are distinct. People sometimes when attacking an idea are utilising that as an avenue to attack the individual.
I have seen it done, unfortunately participated in such myself and being on the receiving end.
I love the rules of life! I don't always win and I don't always loose but I get to be in the game and have fun and can be counted as a player.
If there is a word that I hate is: tolerance .
Tolerance imply that I'm superior.
Respect.
That's the word that should rule the world.
I, of course, can't start a deep philosophical discussion on this platform.
But I Love bishop Barron.
Is my hero.
Despite we may differ on certain points.
Fair enough.
Isn't it?
Idk about superiority but i never thought it was good. I thought you only tolerate things you dislike or disagree with. Do you tolerate something if it's something you enjoy or agree with??(serious question, I'm not sure you'd say you tolerate those or not)
I'm so sad that I missed you while you were in Cleveland. Please advertise next time you come this way. God bless you.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8
Yeah....the same guy who very seldom answers prayers of his desperate, pleading broken hearted followers....is that the guy you mean?
Can I ask you in charity Brandon to show us the book more to your right so we can see the whole of it. God bless. Love the show.
My observation is that most social media platforms, as well as talk radio and TV news analysis programs, have destroyed the art of public argument. The above platforms replace actual discussion or argument with ad hominem attacks, strawman fallacies, and false dichotomies, so evident in memes and zinger tweets. This is what we are teaching and reinforcing in the younger generations. They didn't invent the intolerance we observe.
I agree. This is why I don't send money to political campaigns. The money is used to hire campaign consultants who create vicious attack ads and generate anger throughout the media -- as if one vote could calm the tempest they've stirred up! The effects permeate society now. I invite you and others to call out and reject all extreme negativity, regardless of one's political persuasion. In that spirit, I think Bishop Barron's message in the preceding discussion is very helpful.
Agreed. Laws that impose liturgical ideas like going to mass are obviously wrong because they go against religious freedom, but other aspects of religion like moral/philosophical ideas can should be promulgated as long as it happens with respect and love for your interlocutors.
I wish the algorithm would push these videos to people who need to hear it. I love the message but we’re preaching to the choir here (possibly quite literally lol)
Bishop could you please do a video on capital punishment? All catholics seem to be in agreement with being pro life but there are some reputable orthodox figures in the church who seem to be pro death penalty.
Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God, have mercy on me a sinner.🙏🙏🙏
Bishop, could you please provide a specific reading list of Catholic social teaching? A bibliography or list of URLs? Thank you and God bless you.
those highschoolers definitely got a blessed and enlightened teaching that day... God bless lol
The Bible says litterally that the throne of David in it's continuous descendance-form would be without interruption if the kings would be true to God. This is said about the french kings by Saint Remy, who replaced Israel as said by Jesus and the kings were warned to live up to their engagement, or they would fall... The vocation of catholicism is to not deny this end to be practical without occulting: for it's mission, the help of the house of David is a blessing that no other political system can replace.
Thank you, Bishop. Great conversation. Please note the wildly common erroneous interpretation of the first amendment. It does not proscribe state established religions. It only proscribes a federal establishment of religion. In fact, most states had established religions.
@Sneed you’re presuming that a “nation” as large as the 50 states can be justly ruled from the federal level in this manner. It cannot. Catholic rule is local rule. It is unjust for a foreign power (DC) to legislate for the states. That power is too foreign to the people. It cannot know them.
@Sneed and agreed on error has no rights. As it is error to propose foreign rule. Locality matters.
Where can we read the paper you delivered on synodality?
…Yes!… Thank you do much.
Bishop, would you comment on the distinction between the patient aspect of tolerance and the permissive aspect? It would seem to me that we are called to be tolerant of all things in so far that we are patient with both people and ideas, however we cannot be permissive, and thereby not be tolerant of all ideas or actions that people take. Do you think this is an accurate position to take, and perhaps a distinction that is lost in our civil discourse?
I think the younger generation need a course in distress tolerance. I agree with Brandon's point that young people's moral community is often politics. Church of the "holy politics."
People try today to cause distress on purpose. People just want to do what they want and don’t want to be told what to do about anything. Older people created a devastating world for the young to inherit. It is a place that honors participation in corruption and demands license to sin and gets it. It teaches them that standing up for the good is a hopeless endeavor and is wrong to pursue.
Thomas Jefferson was in Europe from 1784 to 1789, while the Constitutional Convention was in 1787.
Is it possible to read the paper on synodality or watch some/all of the talk that was given in Cleveland?
"Families are breaking down left and right"... Really? The latest Census data (2020) shows divorces are at a 50-year low. This information is easily found, but I understand it doesn't fit the narrative they're selling. Unfortunately, I cannot list links to external sites as references because it violates UA-cam's policy. Still, nothing says I cannot list the organizations so anyone can look up the information for themselves:
* Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
* United States Census Bureau
* Institute for Family Studies
Divorce is at a 50 year low because people aren't getting married. They just shack up or never have a long term relationship. I've been hearing people say 'my partner' rather than 'my husband' or 'my wife' for a some time now. I was wondering why, and then it occurred to me that it was because they were all shacked up or gay.
@@isoldam Though anecdotal, you make an excellent point. However, a 2021 study by the Pew Research Center asserts that the majority of “unpartnered” adults from the ages 25 to 53 were never married. Therefore, it is illogical to conclude that families, which never existed, are breaking down. Maybe the host misspoke and meant to suggest that the construct of marriage is failing. This would be an accurate statement supported by empirical evidence with troubling real-world socioeconomic implications.
"The family is breaking down" is most of the time a conservative dogwhistle for people not following patriarchal family structure. IE, gay people getting married, women working, children not adopting the same religion a their parents or people being in non-monogomous relationships.
It's the classic Christian attitude that there is only one correct way to exist and any other way is considered sinful regardless of real world effect.
@@sarahnade8663 Idk any conservative Christians that are talking out against women working. It's been a thing for a while they can work if they want. I do however hear stuff about marriage, "transgender", non monogamous relationships, the migrant crisis, and the violence in our streets. Most of the talk is about stopping it and helping these people. None of those things make for a stable society.
@@okami425 Conservatives are not capable of or even slightly interested in addressing societies issues. We are talking about a demographic that is mass self robloxing because it's convinced that vaccines are filled with satan and because they desperately want to "own da libs" above even life itself. Conservatives will cut themselves till they drown you in their blood. All those people you listed as them wanting to "help" are just the people they want loaded onto blacked out train cars.
Also, they absolutely want to stop women from working. They never go a day without complaining about women not being bate footed in the kitchen. They just call you a woke snowflake who's trying to cancel them if you call them out on it.
We are and should be intolerant of all sin… we seek the greater good for all, that is, we want everyone to reach their eternal reward in heaven.
What is that "TEXT ME" that shows up by Bishop Barron apparently?
A scam bot
Once you spend long enough in UA-cam comment sections you know instantly they're bots. Seeing often. I'd just ignore.
@@okami425 thank you. Bot. 😂
@@antoniomoyal no problem, as robot it's my job to make sure you ignorant fleshlings are well informed
This confusing of identity with politics is far worse in the US than any other country, and I have lived in a few, in Europe anf Far East. I am British, in the US. We still debate different views amicably!
For some people tolerance means staying silent regardless of the rights and wrongs of an action. However, these same people reserve the right to attack anyone who speaks out against them, especially if they use scripture to support their side of the argument. For too many, tolerance is a one-way street.
As for the First Amendment and the question of separation of church and state, the Bishop is correct. The founders did not include language to that effect in the amendment because that was not the intent of the amendment. Jefferson's letter that referred to a wall existing between the church and the state was cited by the Supreme Court, most recently by justice Hugo Black in Everson v Board of Education (1947) but the opinion and the language was not based on legal precedence and was never spelled out by the founders.
John RTB.THE ANSWER TO YOUR LAST IS THAT THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO Emphasize the present differences that so openly exist between the current Philosophy of the democratic party and those taught and valued by the Catholic faith.
The AP just published an article saying that Christians are now a minority religion in England. The Anglican Church is the official church in England. The Anglican Church had become "tolerant" in the last few decades. I am curious if that is a causation or correlation?
Causation. They "tolerate" the immigrants and aren't making them adopt the English cultural beliefs and customs. Seeing as they aren't making them assimilate they'll soon overrun and overtake
Imo it's the same mistake Germany and France are making too. They're becoming minorities in their own countries race/ethnicity wise but also culturally because migrants aren't assimilating.
The music at the end needs to be quieter. It's hard to hear what Brandon is saying.
I've been thinking that even in the politics of the Catholic Church and other Christian religions there must be a place for the thought that other religions and other cultures around the world candy Christian in action without being labelled as such. For example the Japanese people I have been there many times and they've amaze me with their gratitude and support of each other on the street they hold a deep respect for everybody in their culture even that local toilet cleaner I can see the love they have and also the social structure which can be stifling but requires their participation. Being Christian in nature doesn't mean being Catholic or this that or the other perhaps it means to offer Another Love
If any church publicly preaches on politics from its pulpits, it needs to be taxed as a political institution. The irony of religious institutions speaking on political topics, is that it's a debasing of its duty to speak to spiritual matters.
@Lovemusic78566 If a priest states God loves his creation from it's very beginning to its end here on earth and wishes to spend eternity with us in heaven, and therefore expects us to also love respect and care for this creation, the priest has covered political topics, such as abortion, healthcare, environment, civil rights, war, education, etc. It's not hard to extrapolate what our Creator would want us to think and act on regarding the current political topics from the simple statement above. But never in this hypothetical statement by the priest did he mention politics or politicians.
All participants in politics want to impose their will on others, and we do legislate morality, for better or for worse, the debate is to what degree.
We need to love the person, but hate the sin.
Looking forward 🎧🇬🇧🎶✌⚪
Father you say what should i do?
❤️🙏
I voted for the party that doesn't have the murder of children as there central platform. When both parties are anti-abortion it will be a harder choice. If one can think murdering children is okay how can I trust them on anything else? Sin darkens the intellect.
The rules ARE the game.
Christian love: "I know better what is good for you than you do, and I do not respect your right to make choices for yourself."
But that knowing is based on an objective truth of a metaphysical reality. And that's why Christians can make that bold assertion, because they can make the case for it. Heck the entire Western Civilization, the greatest civilization to ever exist, and science itself, was based on these metaphysical truth.
@@elperinasoswa6772 It is overwhelmingly naive to think that you "know" the "objective truth" about metaphysical reality. The fair-minded person recognizes that the truth about reality is a hotly contested issue, and one could hold many reasonable views about it. To believe that you "know" your religion is true is a level of egotistical, imperialistic arrogance that our society has largely moved past.
We do respect your right to make choices for yourself, but we will not stop WARNING you about the consequences of your choices.
Also, modern society has not moved on from this way of thinking, merely changed its base to something even more groundless.
@@Molotov49 no differnet than teachers calling cps on parents who won't affirm their child's identity. The teacher claims they know better for the parents child and that harm is being done. So I'll give the guy who replied to you the credit. That way of thinking/seeing things hadn't changed. Only the the side who has power making the claims.
@@okami425 That example is massively different and I don't think I need to explain why.
❤️
I don’t think it is solely a matter of separating the idea from the person. After all, the person will attend to this idea, logistically and materially. Ideas don’t beget people, people beget ideas. So I think, indeed, it is more of a matter of the person defending, advancing, or claiming an idea. To challenge ideas can and will (sometimes but not always) also challenge the person himself, since it is he who has invested substantial amount of labor in the idea that is now challenged. I do not think claiming that people merely over-identify with an idea to become an ideologue; the idea is access into one’s praxis in becoming and growing. One example is when various groups challenge or deride our sacraments. As catholics, it would be appropriate to think and feel our way of life and person is under attack or at least challenged - depending on the gravity of the claims presented against us. Abortion, euthanasia are others.
Thank you gentlemen. I fear the lack of morality in this sad society keeps people from making clear, informed ,and rational decisions. I’ve never felt this discouraged over the divisive state that this beautiful country is in . I’m not usually this pessimistic, but it’s not pretty out there. We are eroding as a society. We are unhinged. A disgrace.
Bishop Barron, please help me. I am struggling a lot and I feel like I have nowhere to turn. I know it is a lot to ask and you are busy and I don't want to be selfish by taking your time, but could you please get into contact with me somehow. Any help is greatly appreciated. Please pray for me and my family.
Sweet
Thank you as always!! But do you have a troll here?( I’ve seen the “text me” reply lots of times here)
Not a troll, a scammer. Anyone who texts that number will not be texting Bishop Barron, but they will be in contact with a con artist. This is a very common scam that you see on many UA-cam channels.
Must be SUPER-cautious.
23:30 “giving priority to those issues where human life is most directly threatened”
Bishop Barron. Months ago you put out a video to address the problem of gun violence. I made some ignorant-ass comment on that video as well. I just can’t shake this feeling (yea I guess I’m letting my amygdala take control Stephen) that this is ridiculous. A majority of the decent, critical thinking I do is thanks to you and your work. I’m a catholic (albeit a shitty one, my fault) thanks to your amazing series. But democrats seem like they hold all the worst positions. And it strikes me as so biased to rail against guns when the American left touts free and clear abortion, and the war against the nuclear family (you’ve covered that). What haunts me most is the LGBTQIA2S+ stuff. CS Lewis wrote somewhere that saving a drowning man is a noble duty worth dying for, but not a duty worth living for. Thus, a man shouldn’t dedicate his life to watching the coast and impose cpr classes on anyone who gets near him. It’s a sort of “give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” kind of thing. Kids are being taught all these bizarre lies about sexuality by people who LIVE FOR THE CAUSE. I would argue that this is where human life is most directly threatened. Especially, especially, where the transgender stuff comes in. I don’t know what the fuck I’m saying. I’m so drunk. Anyway, happy birthday father Schmidt and thanks for everything u do for florida
The first amendment protects religious freedom from the government. I agree with this statement. We have an inalienable right to practice our faith the way we are called and capable of doing. We have the right to an opinion, especially when those opinions are based on facts, and we have the right to bear arms when those freedoms are threatened. That's what the National Guards were created for.
Human life has never been more deeply threatened then by laws that allow, and political parties and candidates that encourage the taking of an innocent human life, a God given and God created gift, Through the act of abortion.
Let me ask.
If your neighbour went to hospital with double kidney failure and is going to die without a transplant, but is found that you have compatible kidneys. Does the government deserve the ability to no matter what you personally want, to force you onto the operating table and take your organ in order to save your neighbours life?
I would not want to board an airplane where the mechanic was very tolerant of improper specs.
Love is a gift to give to another just like the design of the law that protects the life of both of us. Tolerance creates apathy towards this defining 'love'.
If you stand up with for anything with the love that made Jesus take up the Cross for us with the desire to elevate society you will discover very quickly the hate that desired His death.
My "catholic" friends now trade in the most vile conspiracies. Politics trump the faith and morals they espouse. Point this out and they write you off as a bad catholic.
Yes, that's what I've encountered. People will buy into the most awful and obnoxious lies and behave in the most unchristian manner as long as they think it supports their political party.
True!!!!!
So according to you bishop Barron being anti-abortion is above of mercy. That is nit right. That’s the gospel according to Fox channel, not the gospel of Jesus.
You're right!!
Hello your Grace, I am agnostic but I think you're a very intelligent and articulate defender of Catholicism.
I was wondering if you could comment on Fr. Séan Sheehy's (of Listowel, Kerry, Ireland) recent comments at the pulpit about the state legalising "mortal sin" (i.e. same-sex marriage) and saying "God help those walking out" to the people who walked out in protest at this remarks (implying that unless they repent they will be damned).
In my mind, Fr Sheehy's remarks speak to a rigid reactionary theology and moral philosophy whereas you represent the more sober moderate conservative theology that respectfully disagrees with abortion and same-sex marriage but does not arrogantly condemn those who do not share those views to Hell.
If you partake in the act of say like homosexuality than you are committing sin which will damage your soul. It's not a sin to be attracted to the same sex but it is a sin to sleep with them. So we can disagree and you not be thrown right into hell. If you go disagree with someone on abortion but that person themselves wouldn't personally get an abortion or hasn't gotten one. Than they aren't dmning themselves outright. You have to partake in the act to my knowledge to commit the mortal sin.
I'm just a church goer not an expert on catholic moral reasoning and philosophy and the such though so I'd still encourage asking a priest or someone who may spend a bit more time devoted to these sorts of things.
About 30 years ago I could hang out and share a meal and a beer with my liberal friends because politics was an aspect of who we were, not a central identification that determines who is good and who is bad.
Time passed, political discourse got sharper and more devisee as promoted by 24 hour cable news, talk radio, and online content. The values and philosophy that made me self-describe as fairly conservative ultimately moved me from one Party that I felt became problematically reactionary and callous to another Party that, while still often unrealistic fiscally and overly erratic socially, seems now to be much more rooted in preserving Democracy and the general rights and welfare of all in a more fair and pluralistic manner.
Don’t get me wrong, as the Bishop said, neither party represents my opinion in toto, but I’ve come to believe that, as it concerns the preservation of life related to topics like abortion, capital punishment, the regulation of military style guns, climate change, and a basic and affordable safety net for the poor, disabled, and uninsured, I’m satisfied with my new political affiliation.
As for my ability to hang out with my friends who are of another political affiliation, I try not to talk to them about politics. Some, though like to am bait me (not in the good natured teasing way of the far past) . . . to the point that I got into a heated squabble with one longtime friend who argued it was necessary to separate and incarcerate the children of immigrants seeking asylum to protect our country from foreign invaders. Oh, and COVID was a liberal conspiracy. So, sadly, I do shy away now from people who I believe base their “means justified the ends” political ideology on reactionary, grievance and divisive, jingoistic antagonism.
I especially believe that bending knee to someone who acts in a manner so opposite to that of Jesus’ teachings and craves the total devotion and admiration of the crowed like some kind of present day Golden Calf, is inconsistent with my Catholic values and upbringing.
Spaceman, I totally agree with you.
do you believe in an eternal hell for those who don't make it immidietly to heaven? the greek bible describes the time in hell as an aion which is a limited time
Or to have the "audacity" to have an opinion about it.
Protestants and/or Muslim's and/or others aren't expected to dis-claim their faith in order to seek public office.
I hope people from the secular left and evangelical far right, both of whom use politics to replace the role of God, watch this...
I was disappointed in Bishop Barton’s specific comments about this election cycle. Many states, including Michigan have abortion on the ballot. Many states, sometimes by way of who you elect, have parental rights and children’s “sexual freedom and independence” on the ballot. Thankfully, the Catholic clergy in Michigan are speaking strongly and directly about these issues. The life and death circumstances of these issues far outweigh other possible interpretation of Catholic social teaching whereby the government should be responsible to save the poor and downtrodden.
Intolerant tolerance