commentaries

Too late for me. After the money the church gave to force their reliigious views on the secular marriage laws...I can't help but think the church is out of touch...and I mean out of touch with God.

Sent me their letter on how to vote and I sent it right back. The church is not my government and my government is not my church. The Bishops seem to have the two confused.

From the article: "Politics divides Catholics. The works of mercy bring us together and also show the world what the power of faith can achieve." On the other hand, when politics enables works of mercy, politics brings people of faith together and shows the world what the power of promoting and providing for the common good can achieve. Social justice principles--especially as expressed in economic justice principles--have been part of Catholic teachings since 1840 when a Jesuit coined the term. The concept is also part of Protestants' Social Gospel. Moreover, social justice is a secular term. The Preamble to the International Labor Organization's Constitution, for example, states: "[U]niversal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice."

You can count on E.J. Dionne to turn something like community relief efforts into political commentary.

"A church looking to halt defections among so many younger Catholics should understand that casting itself as a militantly right-wing political organization -- which, face it, is what some of the bishops are doing -- clouds its Christian message." I'm 61 years old and I have left the Church for the very reasons E.J. Dionne has highlighted in this essay. I see no attempt by the Church to change or reconcile with those of us who have left. I will give my money and time to organizations who are doing the work of Christ.

As usual Dionne is completely missing the point for far too many reasons to list. Two main ones - its impressive that the Church has stayed the course when it comes to LIFE issues. So many religions and churches change at the whim of society and really have no values any longer. The second thing is Dionne's assertion that the Church was not appealing to young people. A friend of mine travels the country for the bishops working youth events. I attended the one in Minneapolis a few months ago at De La Salle High School. There were thousands of kids, from 8th grade up. Did any news organizations cover it? NOPE! My friend says the youth are engaged all across the country and if Minneapolis was an example, there is no reason to doubt him. Just look at the World Youth Days that are held every four years or so somewhere in the world. Millions of Catholic youth show up. My parish is one of the biggest and most active in the Twin Cities. The youth group is huge and active. And, there are barely any Hispanics in our parish so you can't use that one.[ What the Star Tribune and Washington Post fail to tell you is that EJ claims to be Catholic, but he's one that thinks the Church should be like the Lutherans and Presbyterians and change every time society changes (that's where the money is at), but us real Catholics will not let that happen. We're proud to be one of the only true, consistent religions that still has morality and values. And the Church hiding its charity works? The Church hasn't never put that in the limelight. Jesus says to quietly do works of charity and mercy. Dionne and all you Catholics that think you're going to change the Church - go join another religion. And don't let the door...

How is a church going to build a house or rebuild a destroyed business? People can have all the faith in the world but need a job and a place to live.

Well done, E.J. I hardly recognize my Church any more. The level of vitriole coming from bishops and some priests this election season was ... astonishing. I tried to listen and think about things the bishop said were important - but at the end of the day, I simply did not agree with some of what the bishops said was absolute. Big conundrum these days - figuring out how to be a good Catholic and a good citizen.

So the Catholic Church is a "militantly right-wing political organization" for being against abortion and gay marriage, I guess. What do you expect the Church to do, ignore natural law that was instituted, as it believes, by God? The church believes a growing, moving, functioning organism developing inside a woman's uterus is an alive human being merely in a stage of development. The church believes this human being is an individual who has never lived before and is therefore deserving of respect and protection. Is the church wrong? Is this organism not alive? Is this organism not human (developing inside a woman's uterus)? Is this organism not an individual who has never lived before? Is this organism at this stage of development ANY different than the 6 billion people living in the world today were at this stage of their development? As for gay "marriage", the church believes marriage is reserved for opposite sex couples to commit to one another in a lifelong commitment and through a physical expression of this love they, with God's blessing, create a new human life that has never lived before. This new human being is then to be raised in a loving home by his or her parents (a mom and a dad). Is the Church wrong in believing that only heterosexuals can procreate and bring into the world a brand new individual who has never lived before? Is the church wrong in believing both moms AND dads are important in the raising of children? Is the Church wrong in believing that the word "marriage" should only be used to describe this unique relationship? I just want to know why these positions are SOOOOOOO controverial and non-sensical. Please enlighten me...

Well done, E.J. I hardly recognize my Church any more. The level of vitriole coming from bishops and some priests this election season was ... astonishing. I tried to listen and think about things the bishop said were important - but at the end of the day, I simply did not agree with some of what the bishops said was absolute. Big conundrum these days - figuring out how to be a good Catholic and a good citizen. ========================== Its easy being a good Catholic and a good citizen. If you call voting yes for marriage being a bad citizen, you're nuts. If you call voting against Obama because he's limiting religious freedom and the freedom of consciousness a bad direction (not to mention his support of killing of thousands of babies), you're nuts. The Catholic Church does SO much good in this world, your comments make no sense at all. If being moral and having values is tough for you, I can name a few other denominations that will welcome you with open arms.