Posted on 06/14/2006 4:52:10 PM PDT by garbageseeker
I am posting this article because very few people know that the Catholic Church is going out of their way to make sure CIRA is the law of the land. The church has supported illegal immigration for many years and they have been active in getting CIRA passed. I also publishing this article in the hopes that the many Catholics who support the House of Representatives would know what their church is doing on the illegal immigration issue in the United States. I really do not think that Roman Catholics know the churches position on this matter.I know that there are many Catholics out there who support the "borders enforcement only" approach, not the approach the pro-illegal immigrant. approach our leaders has taken.
Christ never intended the Church to be the way it is today. As a perfect example, show me where in the Bible it says that priests must be celibate. You can't and you know it.
"and it turns out the Catholics are correct over salvation/damnation, then you are less likely to get into heaven then the Baptist, because the Baptist didn't reject the truth of Catholicism because Baptists were never exposed to the truth."
This is what drives me nutz. I'm glad you put in "if Catholics are correct over salvation/damnation". Because the idea that the rest of the Christian world other than Catholics, are probably going to heaven because of their ignorance of the "one true faith", is such a crock. Made up by the Vatican II Council to try to come up with something to modify the Church's true stance which is only Catholics will go to heaven, and no other Christians will, unless they switch to Catholic. So Vatican II comes up with this equivocation so that what was their true religious stance wouldn't be so harshly interpreted by other Christians. Giving the rest of the Christians an out, in the eyes of the Catholic Church. They are just religiously ignorant, so they'll get to heaven because of their religious stupidity. Geez, how totally condescending. I'd rather the Church stick with only Catholics go to heaven. At least you know out front where they really stand.
Which brings me then to heaven. What, is there a Lutheran heaven, a Baptist heaven, a Jewish heaven (for those that believe in the concept of heaven), a Presbyterian heaven? Must be pretty crowded up in the sky, with so many heavens around. A variety of Protestant religions also had an exclusivity clause, you wouldn't get to heaven if you weren't a Lutheran, Calvinist, Baptist, etc. And then there is Islam, where heaven is only for Muslims, no infidels allowed (that's you and I). We won't even talk about the Hindu's, Buddhists, etc. as it would occupy too much space.
What I want to know is do Catholics walk around, befriending, sometimes marrying, working with the variety of people they meet in their lives thinking, I'm your friend, but you are going to hell because you aren't Catholic. Or, you are my boyfriend, but you are doomed to hell, or you're my boss, but do you realize I'm working for someone who is going to hell? Why be friends with a bunch of people in the world that you think are all going to hell? Do you walk around with the concept of I'll meet you, be friends with you, knowing you are going to hell, and when we die, I'll be in heaven, and you'll be down in hell frying and burning. Young teenagers, old seniors, the infirm, the charity workers, the do-gooders, the church workers, all are going to hell and fry because they are not a given religion?
What a way to look at the world and the people in it. I'm your friend, but you are going to hell when you die and I'm not. You are a good person in life, but because you are the wrong religion, you are going to die and suffer forever in the afterlife because you aren't Catholic, etc. How can you look at people in such a light? At leave Vatican II tried to come up with an out on this point, because the other way of looking at religion, is so against the alleged concepts of religiosity. You lead a good life but because you aren't a specific religion you rot in hell anyway when you die. This one concept of religious belief always ends up stopping me short regarding Catholicism, which I otherwise admire on many levels, and half of my family is Catholic. The other half is Missouri Synod Lutheran, which is interesting, as both once claimed exclusivity of heaven, a view of heaven as a special social club, members only allowed. There must be so many heavens. Let' see, do I go to the Lutheran heaven where my mother is, or to the Catholic heaven where my father is. Do I have to make a choice, knowing I will only see one of my parents, only some of my relatives, only some of my friends, in one or the other, or some other religion's heaven? Such a theological dilemna.
And the church has never said, ex-cathedra, priests must be celibate. Celibacy of the clergy exists in only 1 of 22 rites, granted, it is the largest rite of the church, but still, not the only incorporation of Catholicism. Not to mention, many exceptions exist in the Roman rite where there are married priests, generally, converts from theologically similar churches such as the Orthodox and Episcopalian/Anglican, and never mind those ordained in Eastern Rite churches who are now in the Roman rite church.
And I personally think, with the lack of clergy, this is one thing the Roman rite will back down on. It's not an issue of truth, it is an issue of a self-imposed discipline within a rite. I do believe Catholicism is the true religion, as we do have apostolic succession from Jesus Christ, God's only son. No Protestant denomination has that, and only the Orthodox have a claim to any descent from apostolic authority.
Interesting article. I have just skimmed it my self. I think its pretty consistent with Church Teaching on this issue. I know there is a tendency to try to put the Church's teaching into political classifications of what Liberal catholics think versus Conservative Catholics. THe real issue is what is the Orthodox Catholic response. Orthodox being that one submits himself to Christ and Christ Teaching and to his Church that expounds them.
Of course, a Catholic can a wide array of views as to specific legislation.
The most powerful argument that comes out this document is in regards to "mixed" families. Those families that might might be split apart. This flys in the face of Catholic Teaching. Especially for it to be done on such a mass level.
Finally, the Church is not promoting illegal activity. I can find nothing in this document that says they wish for illegal immigration to continue. I know there are some people who feel that if the Bishops recommendations were followed that illegal immigration would increase.. However many have a opposite view including myself. But to accuse the Bishops of intentionally promoting an illegal activity I think is wrong
The Church has never said that Priest "Must" be celibate. However it is the discipline in the latin rite that can be changed in the future.
Should the Catholic Church meddle in the abortion laws of this country? As an Orthodox and conservative Catholic that supports the Church's efforts to ban abortion in this country, I don't see how a like minded conservative Catholic could complain if the Church takes an interest in the immigration laws of this country. In fact if a person did so they would not be consistent in their reasoning or politcal activity
whoops, leave = least
So any means to an end?
Is this normal Masonic behavior? To trash a Church you don't even belong to?
The Catholic Church has supported regularizing the illegals who are in this country for a very long time. It's no surprise to any Catholic.
The bishops are in almost unanimous agreement on this.
What position does your Church take?
The Church sees immigration as a moral issue, not a political one.
Sorry if you don't agree, but the Church has taken an interest in social justice issues for millenia.
Immigration is a moral issue. What does your Church say about immigration?
In this Republic the problem is that we are the ordinary Citizen is pretty much Caesar. THere fore as Catholics and Caesar at the same time we need guidance from the Church because what we Catholics do as "caesar" impact millions
The same could be said about abortion. Should the Catholic Church say nothing about abortion?
Yes, that issue that is political.
Abortion is an affair of the state. Should Churches stay out of any discussion of abortion?
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