Posted on 10/25/2012 7:04:01 AM PDT by marshmallow
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia urged the faithful to put their faith ahead of politics, according to an interview with Catholic News Service within two weeks of the presidential election.
The Catholic leader clarified the duty of Catholics as he discussed the politics of abortion. He emphasized a need to honor God above country, of “Catholic identity taking precedence over everything.”
“We’re Catholics before we’re Democrats. We’re Catholics before we’re Republicans. We’re even Catholics before we’re Americans because we know that God has a demand on us prior to any government demand on us,” he said in a new interview with the wire service. “And this has been the story of the martyrs through the centuries,” Chaput said.
“[Abortion] is a very serious issue that requires absolute adherence on the part of Catholics,” said the Philadelphia archbishop, “and if we don’t stand united on this issue we’re bound to failure—not only in the area of protecting unborn human life but in maintaining our religious freedom.”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Exodus 20:
2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
Matthew 4:
8 Again the devil took him up into a very high mountain, and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, 9 And said to him: All these will I give thee, if falling down thou wilt adore me. 10 Then Jesus saith to him: Begone, Satan: for it is written, The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and him only shalt thou serve.
GOD is God.
Government is not God.
Nation is not God.
Prestige is not God.
Money is not God.
Power is not God.
No ... only GOD is God, and He alone do we worship.
As for me and my house, we will serve The LORD.
Viva Cristo Rey!!!
Not gonna help the next Kennedy who runs for POTUS.
I can live with that.
Consider carefully before answering.
Just suppose:
You were born in this nation, the greatest on the face of the Earth, to two parents, who have a lineage of birthright, in this nation. That makes you an American, whether you like it or not.
Your parents were of Christian upbringing, and followed all the rites associated with your growth, from a newborn babe to a young man. You participated in those rites that were deemed necessary, for you to be considered Christian, yourself.
Now, by doing so, within the writings and teachings of literature associated with these rites, you are instructed that you have now become answerable to Divinity, and that trumps anything of any kind of being an American.
But, you are an American. You have for as long as you remember, said The Pledge of Allegiance, proudly, because you ARE an American.
So now, do you drop your allegiance to the nation that is the home of your birth, and the birth of your parents, and their parents? Or, do you live a lie?
I have watched this argument build, for a long time. I have watched the challenge being bullhorned to every American across the land. Here is my answer, and phooey, if it does not fit in your round peg/round hole pegboard.
My religious beliefs are pecuilar, particular, and pertain only to me. I do not have to answer to any American, native or natural born, as to the definitions of what those beliefs are.
I am an American by birth, half-breed and proudly, by blood. I am half-Mojave. I am a disabled Vietnam veteran, so I have damn well earned the right to think, speak, elect, spit at, and pray to whom I choose.
I look with the eye of scrutiny at anybody that says that anybody who practices their peculiar and particular faith, must be of that faith first, before being an American. IMHO, should you believe that, this country doesn’t need you! Mohammedans are a prime example of this. IMHO, this means that you are willing to shape the laws of this country to your own peculiar, and particular beliefs, and what I hold dear, and what has worked for all these years since the beginning of this great nation, be damned.
While I'm not a Christian, I certainly put my American citizenship before my (lack of) faith.
While I'm not a Christian, I certainly put my American citizenship before my (lack of) faith.
My first, highest, and final loyalty is to God who created me, not to any mere earthly principality or power.
Viva Cristo Rey!!!
I can certainly understand why someone who acknowledges no supernatural divinity would give his highest loyalty to his country.
Being Christian is a much higher priority than being Baptist. I'm Baptist because I'm Christian and I believe Baptists interpret scripture the best and have the best form of church governance.
But being Baptist is associating with a group of Christian believers. Thus being Baptist has a distinct human stamp upon it. The quality of being a Baptist is subject to change depending on the leadership and the Baptist laypeople's resolve to keep leadership on target.
My Christianity has a higher priority than my being an American. My allegiance to God is far more important than adherence to a human government.
However my Christianity is mostly compatible with being an American. In fact it makes me a better American. It helps be fight to help make America better and to help it adhere to it's traditional Christian roots.
Here's the text of it ... emphasis mine:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
FWIW.
Choose ye this day whom you will serve.
As for me and my house, we will serve The LORD.
Should a Jew give his highest loyalty to his faith over his country?
Should a Hindu?
Should a Muslim?
The one thing admirable about the mohammedans is their unwavering dedication to their beliefs. I find the beliefs themselves to be repugnant ... but then I also find the non-beliefs of atheists to be both repugnant and risible.
I'm more of an "E pluribus unum" guy, myself.
The one thing admirable about the mohammedans is their unwavering dedication to their beliefs. I find the beliefs themselves to be repugnant ... but then I also find the non-beliefs of atheists to be both repugnant and risible.
While I can't speak for atheists (as I'm an agnostic) I'll admit that I disagree with most of them when it comes to politics...but to characterize the assertion that the supernatural does not exist as "repugnant" strikes me as more than a bit peculiar!
I'm more of an "E pluribus unum" guy, myself.
The one thing admirable about the mohammedans is their unwavering dedication to their beliefs. I find the beliefs themselves to be repugnant ... but then I also find the non-beliefs of atheists to be both repugnant and risible.
While I can't speak for atheists (as I'm an agnostic) I'll admit that I disagree with most of them when it comes to politics...but to characterize the assertion that the supernatural does not exist as "repugnant" strikes me as more than a bit peculiar!
Sorry for the double posts...getting all sorts of error messages when I try to reply.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
kind of guy, myself.
But before that, I'm a
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
kind of guy ...
FR is badly behaved today ... and God (any or all, take your pick ;’}) help you if you’re trying to use a mobile device.
I thought we kind of covered all of this with “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s”?
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