“MAKE THE CASE WITH”
???????????????????????????????????????
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TELL THE LEGISLATORS . . . GOD SAYS THIS.
THEY COMPLY, OR OUT OF THE CHURCH FORCABLY, IMMEDIATELY AND WHOLESALE at whatever risk to their Salvation.
WHAT’S THIS ‘POLITICING’ to gain favor of man in man’s arena man’s ways—the ways of the flesh—vs insisting that legislators submit to a higher law and THE AUTHORITY OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
Otherwise, the religious hierarchy is just turning itself into yet another lobbying group on a par with those lobbying for free condoms.
CRAZY!
And, to my mind, rather UNBiblical.
Give the legislators XX days to forcefully legislate PREVENTION OF A SINGLE ADDITIONAL INFANT’S MURDER
OR ELSE!
NO DISCUSSION.
NO LOBBYING.
NO POLITICING.
NO INTELLECTUAL GAMES between religious vs secular POLITICIANS!
Sheesh.
This is not the RC’s standing Biblically tall, imho.
I agree.
It should be obvious by now that the conciliatory, “Please be reasonable ...,” “We know your heart’s in the right place ...,” “Don’t want to overreact ...” approach is not working. Charitably, I’ll say it was reasonable to give it a try, but continuing to pursue a clearly failed policy is not rational.
St. Paul says of an unrepentant sinner, “I delivered him up to Satan for the destruction of his flesh” in the hope of saving his soul.
WHAT’S THIS ‘POLITICING’ to gain favor of man in man’s arena man’s ways—the ways of the flesh—vs insisting that legislators submit to a higher law and THE AUTHORITY OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
Otherwise, the religious hierarchy is just turning itself into yet another lobbying group on a par with those lobbying for free condoms.
Quix,
While I can understand your angst against our "country" allowing such things, is this attitude you have Biblical? Where do we find St. Paul making such statements against Roman law, which ALSO allowed people to leave their infants to die to exposure if they didn't want them? Or better, slavery? Does Paul speak as such against it?
I think we have to turn to our "Tradition" to get a good idea of what the early Church practiced when Catholics became politicians and could actually help to determine policy. Not sure when that first happened, but by 325 there must have been some Catholic politicians at the latest. I haven't done an extensive analysis on what the Bishops did in these situations, but I am aware of some bishops, such as St. Ambrose, who threatened to excommunicate the EMPEROR HIMSELF for his part in the mass murder of innocents in Greece in the mid-300's.(and the emperor repented - such was the importance of faith and religion in his life...) Clearly, Ambrose was a bishop with guts!!
I think the Bible does have something to say against scandal - such as Paul in 1 Cor 5 and the expulsion of the one causing scandal. But what is Paul's attitude on WHY? To protect the community, true, but ALSO, to save the one in sin. I am not sure I see that attitude in your post.
I am not sure what the ultimate answer will be on this. It is frustrating to see the Catholic bishops often more interested in preserving their public image to managing and teaching the flock about their eternal destiny. I do agree that the Bishops should be doing more. But this nation is not a theocracy (the constitution prevents such thinking), so in essence, we ARE a "lobbying group", whether we like it or not. "True" Christians are more a minority. Are WE evangelizing our more nominal brothers and sisters? Probably not. Otherwise, so many Christians would not have voted for a such an avid supporter of murdering infants in the womb.
And certainly, we SHOULD care about the wayward politician's eternal destiny. I think the Bishop of such people as Bidden and Pelosi should be making more efforts to privately, and if necessary, publically, convincing and chastising and evangelizing them on the Church's stand and how they are scandalizing the public with their dissent towards God's teachings on life.
Regards
OK ... use it.
You, a nonCatholic Christian, appear to be scandalised by their apparent inaction or inadequate action.
Fine.
TELL THEM.
Recognise whatever good a particular Bishop may have done, and urge him to do more.
Do it politely, do it rationally (reference the Bible, the Catechism, the endless Papal documents) do it firmly. Just do it.
Verbal blows to the head are for the enemy (Barry Hussein, for example).
Lighting a verbal fire under the chair is for sluggish friends and allies.