Posted on 06/07/2014 3:54:22 PM PDT by ReformationFan
A Gallup poll released May 30 showing large majorities of Americans now agree that homosexual relations, contraception, divorce, and fornication are "morally acceptable” highlights the need for strong preaching on moral issues, says the president of Human Life International.
“The acceptability of these evils is a direct result of people not being engaged in public debate against those trying to force us to accept these issues,” Father Shenan Boquet told LifeSiteNews. “That’s why it’s so important for faith leaders to speak out and find new ways to help the public understand moral teachings on controversial issues.”
Father Shenan Boquet, president of Human Life International The Gallup poll reveals that abortion is currently the most divisive issue in America, with 42 percent of people saying it is morally acceptable and 48 percent saying it is morally wrong. While this would seem to indicate that Americans lean pro-life, the number of people who say abortion is acceptable is actually at a nearly all-time high and has been rising, according to the pollsters.
Euthanasia is a similarly divisive issue, but it, too, now enjoys a record number of supporters – 53 percent of those surveyed say doctor-assisted suicide is morally permissible, compared to just 43 percent who oppose it.
Even support for polygamy is on the rise – the practice now considered morally acceptable by a surprising 14 percent of Americans.
Boquet told LifeSiteNews the poll reflects a growing cultural hostility toward traditional values in America, and indicates the need for clergy who are not afraid to speak clearly on moral issues, regardless of the social consequences.
“When the popular trend in society is to bully people who believe in God and persecute those who try to live out their faith, how can we not expect the morality of the public to suffer?” Boquet asked.
“This poll is an example of how the tyranny of moral relativism can impact our culture. Representatives of government, the mainstream media, academia and the entertainment industry have pushed Americans away from God for decades and towards acceptance of a secular ‘morality’ where individuals decide right and wrong based on how they feel,” he said.
“It’s highly probable that almost all of the people polled in this survey would admit that they belong to one of the major religions of the world,” Boquet added. “All of these faiths hold teachings against most of the issues on Gallup’s list. And yet these people are telling pollsters they’re okay with behavior that is absolutely immoral and sinful according to the teachings of the God they claim to worship.”
Boquet particularly called on Catholic leaders to be brave in their opposition to the secular onslaught, as their Church is one of the last remaining holdouts against the tide of public opinion supporting innovations like same-sex “marriage” and artificial contraception.
“Catholic priests and bishops, who are often the prime targets of public attacks because of the Church’s moral teachings, must be especially vocal and bold in proclaiming and teaching the faith on these issues,” Boquet said. “And they must delve deeper beyond the issues themselves to the root of the problem: the rejection of God’s truth.”
Ya think?
ping
bump
too many churches are too silent on this *cough* Osteen *cough*
Heck, everyone knows that ONLY heterosexuality is acceptable and SEX belongs in the marriage bed, of one man and one woman married to each other. NO DIVORCE.
I had a Catholic high school classmate who did get an annulment after five children. He husband had been beating the living daylights out of her for all that time. It started right after the wedding.
The husband had planned on the beating all along, from before the wedding. It was learned from HIS father. My high school chum was given an annulment because the husband NEVER had any intention of NOT beating her. THAT was grounds for annulment since his behavior was clearly aberrant and not in the intention of a valid Catholic marriage.
She is married to another guy who adores her and she is ONE HAPPY CAMPER.
I only found out about this because I met her mother at a women's group meeting at our parish...and "mom" happened to still be in that same parish. When we introduced ourselves to each other, her mother and my high school classmate had the same name...so I mentioned it and then got the whole story from "Mom."
Hasn’t worked so far. Now, 1 on 1 ... that’s a different story. Preaching is always to one particular group ... the choir.
If you don’t preach from the Bible, the Holy Spirit does not work faith in the human heart. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God”(Romans 10:17)). Preaching based on the latest media topics doesn’t cut it.
I’m sure Father Shenan Boquet has already got the USCCB on board! /s
**Boquet particularly called on Catholic leaders to be brave in their opposition to the secular onslaught, as their Church is one of the last remaining holdouts against the tide of public opinion supporting innovations like same-sex “marriage” and artificial contraception. **
#1
“Preaching is always to one particular group ... the choir.”
Jesus converted people with His preaching. So did the Apostles. And so did many, many others. And even the choir needs to hear some good preaching now and again.
You’re defining the Word of God too narrowly unless you mean the Tanach.
Yes, well, show Joel where the monetary advantage is in preaching the moral law as written - and very, very plainly understandable - and he will be on your side.
When are people going to figure out that television is entirely an entertainment medium, no matter what the subject matter. There are no exceptions ... OK, perhaps the occasional severe weather announcement. Otherwise, there is no seriousness to TV. None. Not ever.
Osteen is an entertainer. Nothing more.
So, your point is ...?
A lot of churches are more concerned with filling the collection plates than preaching God’s word.
There are “churches” in African countries that are little more than a poured slab of concrete and a thatched roof and my guess is they worship God more than some of our stained-glass monoliths.
I was just chatting about divorce. Nothing more.
If you want to know where some of the problem lies, look at the younger ministers coming out of seminary. My current minister tried to tell me at bible study, that God destroyed the city of Sodom because of a lack of hospitality, not rampant homosexuality. My King James bible says differently.
For me, that would be a sign that either him or I needed to find a new church.
It’s a United Methodist Church, and she’s being transferred to a new church. I’m going to hang around to see what the new minister is like.
The minister’s a she? That would explain the theologically liberal position on homosexuality and I’m sure on other issues as well. I go to a PCA church where all the ministers are men who are required to affirm the inerrancy of Scripture in their ordination vows.
I agree. Tagline
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