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This is one of those issues where socialism perverts the teaching of the Church.

In the America piece, this bishop stated:

So it is with the issue of poverty. The core teaching of the church on the role of government in combating poverty declares that in addition to promoting conditions that provide meaningful jobs for their citizens, nations must provide a humane threshold of income, health benefits and housing. Just as important, as Pope Francis has repeatedly taught, wealthy nations must work ardently to reduce gross inequalities of wealth within their borders and beyond. Accomplishing these goals requires a series of complex prudential decisions about financial structures, incentives for wealth creation and income support programs that enhance rather than undermine family life. Many different types of choices are compatible within a full commitment to Catholic teachings on economic justice.

While, yes, Christian teaching mandates generosity to the poor, how that is done is a different issue:

In recent years the range of such intervention has vastly expanded, to the point of creating a new type of State, the so-called "Welfare State". This has happened in some countries in order to respond better to many needs and demands, by remedying forms of poverty and deprivation unworthy of the human person. However, excesses and abuses, especially in recent years, have provoked very harsh criticisms of the Welfare State, dubbed the "Social Assistance State". Malfunctions and defects in the Social Assistance State are the result of an inadequate understanding of the tasks proper to the State. Here again the principle of subsidiarity must be respected: a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to coordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good.

By intervening directly and depriving society of its responsibility, the Social Assistance State leads to a loss of human energies and an inordinate increase of public agencies, which are dominated more by bureaucratic ways of thinking than by concern for serving their clients, and which are accompanied by an enormous increase in spending.

Pope John Paul II

In recent years the range of such intervention has vastly expanded, to the point of creating a new type of State, the so-called "Welfare State". This has happened in some countries in order to respond better to many needs and demands, by remedying forms of poverty and deprivation unworthy of the human person. However, excesses and abuses, especially in recent years, have provoked very harsh criticisms of the Welfare State, dubbed the "Social Assistance State". Malfunctions and defects in the Social Assistance State are the result of an inadequate understanding of the tasks proper to the State. Here again the principle of subsidiarity must be respected: a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to coordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good.

By intervening directly and depriving society of its responsibility, the Social Assistance State leads to a loss of human energies and an inordinate increase of public agencies, which are dominated more by bureaucratic ways of thinking than by concern for serving their clients, and which are accompanied by an enormous increase in spending.

Pope John Paul II

15. And in addition to injustice, it is only too evident what an upset and disturbance there would be in all classes, and to how intolerable and hateful a slavery citizens would be subjected. The door would be thrown open to envy, to mutual invective, and to discord; the sources of wealth themselves would run dry, for no one would have any interest in exerting his talents or his industry; and that ideal equality about which they entertain pleasant dreams would be in reality the levelling down of all to a like condition of misery and degradation. Hence, it is clear that the main tenet of socialism, community of goods, must be utterly rejected, since it only injures those whom it would seem meant to benefit, is directly contrary to the natural rights of mankind, and would introduce confusion and disorder into the commonweal. The first and most fundamental principle, therefore, if one would undertake to alleviate the condition of the masses, must be the inviolability of private property. This being established, we proceed to show where the remedy sought for must be found.…

…17. It must be first of all recognized that the condition of things inherent in human affairs must be borne with, for it is impossible to reduce civil society to one dead level. Socialists may in that intent do their utmost, but all striving against nature is in vain. There naturally exist among mankind manifold differences of the most important kind; people differ in capacity, skill, health, strength; and unequal fortune is a necessary result of unequal condition. Such unequality is far from being disadvantageous either to individuals or to the community. Social and public life can only be maintained by means of various kinds of capacity for business and the playing of many parts; and each man, as a rule, chooses the part which suits his own peculiar domestic condition.…

…38. Here, however, it is expedient to bring under special notice certain matters of moment. First of all, there is the duty of safeguarding private property by legal enactment and protection. Most of all it is essential, where the passion of greed is so strong, to keep the populace within the line of duty; for, if all may justly strive to better their condition, neither justice nor the common good allows any individual to seize upon that which belongs to another, or, under the futile and shallow pretext of equality, to lay violent hands on other people's possessions. Most true it is that by far the larger part of the workers prefer to better themselves by honest labor rather than by doing any wrong to others. But there are not a few who are imbued with evil principles and eager for revolutionary change, whose main purpose is to stir up disorder and incite their fellows to acts of violence. The authority of the law should intervene to put restraint upon such firebrands, to save the working classes from being led astray by their maneuvers, and to protect lawful owners from spoliation.…

Pope Leo XIII

So which one we follow? The teaching of AMCHURCH^™ or the teachings of the Catholic Church?

Click on the thumbnail above to see a sample letter

So they are using those automated plate readers to track the movements of citizens...advertised initially to be able to more easily track criminals, they will be used to track people who are in the wrong place.

I love this: Sanford police said Monday that letters will only be generated when an officer is confident the driver is circling the block looking for a prostitute, and not, for example, driving around lost.

No definition of what makes an officer "confident" -- just the standard, "trust us, we're the government and we're here to help" line.

How would you like to be the happy recipient of a letter like that? Or...how would you like to respond to your wife when she opens up such a letter?

I know, there's plenty of you who will say, "if you're not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about..."

I remember back a long time ago when this country used to be the bastion of freedom and where you were innocent until proven guilty. I wonder what ever happened to that country.

Just another typical day in the life of Freak State politics and Freak State elections, hon...

This surprises me.

That it was reported in the Red Guardian.

Gagh ping.

But was it Torgud gagh, Filden gagh, Meshta gagh, Bithool gagh, Wistan gagh, or some other variety?

Having said that, though:

August, 2013: DOD Training Materials Call Conservatives 'Extremists'

Judicial Watch obtained Defense Department training materials on Friday that described conservative and civil liberties organizations as “hate groups.”

The training materials used by the Air Force were created to help students “recognize extremists ideologies.” The materials identified conservative values, such as individual liberties and states’ rights, as recruiting rhetoric used by “extremists.”

April, 2013: Army Email Labels Christian Ministries as “Domestic Hate Groups” ("Anti-Gay")

A U.S. Army officer sent an email to dozens of subordinates listing the American Family Association and Family Research Council as “domestic hate groups” because they oppose homosexuality — and warned officers to monitor soldiers who might be supporters of the groups.

“Just want to ensure everyone is somewhat educated on some of the groups out there that do not share our Army Values,” read an email from Lt. Col. Jack Rich to three dozen subordinates at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. “When we see behaviors that are inconsistent with Army Values – don’t just walk by – do the right thing and address the concern before it becomes a problem.”

And, though I can't find it right now, I do remember something about a similar incident happening a couple of years ago involving the Pennsylvania National Guard.

Bottom line: there are a whole lot of "isolated incidents" going on here...

Meanwhile with the agenda shaping and forming:

August 2012: Hateful speech on hate groups (The Family Research Council is NOT a hate group)

Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay rights organization, posted an alert on its blog Tuesday: “Paul Ryan Speaking at Hate Group’s Annual Conference.”

The “hate group” that the Republicans’ vice presidential candidate would be addressing? The Family Research Council, a mainstream conservative think tank founded by James Dobson and run for many years by Gary Bauer.

August 2009: Anti-Government Militia Groups on the Rise, (Southern Poverty) Law Center Says

Depending on your perspective, the rise of private, anti-government militias represents either the very best of American patriotism or is an ominous sign of a violent future. Last week, the Southern Poverty Law Center released a report showing that the militia movement is returning to levels not seen since the 1990s, when a series of high-profile stand-offs with federal agents culminated in the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, which killed 168 people. According to the SPLC, the number of people who have joined what it terms "hate groups" has increased by 54 percent since the year 2000.

The SPLC identified 926 hate groups active in 2008, up more than 4 percent from the 888 groups in 2007 and far above the 602 groups documented in 2000. A list and interactive state-by-state map of these groups can be viewed here.

Full title: " Aetna CEO on Obamacare: ‘There’s so much wrong, you just don’t know what’s broken until you get a lot more of it fixed.’"

The piece goes on to describe that the insurance companies have a vested interest in it succeeding.

Shocking that this would appear in the Compost.

Text of message: http://en.radiovaticana.va/articolo.asp?c=737533

“It is time for you, dear brother, to 'pass the baton' in the service of secretary of State. I therefore wish to join with you spiritually in giving thanks to God for the good that he has allowed you to achieve in this, such a delicate and challenging role. The memory of St. Theresa of Jesus, whom we celebrate on this date, invites you to turn your gaze to God: “Let nothing disturb you”, says the great saint of Avila, “let nothing frighten you; whoever has God lacks nothing”.

“On this occasion I feel the need to express my deep gratitude for the diligence which you have brought to your work over these seven years; and I do so also on behalf of the beloved Pope Benedict XVI, who called you from Genoa, where you were archbishop, to return to Rome and entrusted to you the role of secretary of State from 15 September 2006, and therefore also that of Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. Seven years of hard work, lived with great generosity and in the spirit of service. I too have benefited to this day from your expert collaboration.

“There is an aspect for which I wish to express to you my appreciation in a particular way, and it is your faithfulness to the spirit of Don Bosco, the Salesian spirit, that you have been able to conserve and bear witness to in spite of being absorbed in the many commitments connected to the task of assisting Peter's Successor. With the enterprise and love for the Pope characteristic of the sons of St. John Bosco, you have always carried out with dedication your task of guiding the international relations of the Holy See, so important in the exercise of the ministry of the Bishop of Rome. At the same time, you have spared no efforts in taking the Papal Magisterium and the Apostolic blessing everywhere: to all countries, dioceses, parishes, universities, institutions, associations. Our Lady, Help of Christians has been close to you and has always assisted you in your valuable ministry. May her maternal intercession ensure for you the heavenly rewards and graces dearest to your heart. May there be a pledge of peace and spiritual joy in the blessing I impart to you, and which I extend with heartfelt gratitude also to your colleagues and loved ones”.

You pose contrasts that never were so you can establish a point to argue from.

???

How can you feel that way about people that were taught to be Catholics and not Christians ?

Leaving aside your little snark about "taught to be Catholics and not Christians"…

Not at all. I feel that way about people who weren't taught to be Catholics.

A few obvious examples: artificial birth control, divorce/remarriage, and homosexuality.

When kids hear one thing at church and then have the parents say the exact opposite at home, who's the kid going to believe? Or, even worse, when the kid doesn't hear anything at all about it in church (or religious education) and hear the exact opposite of Church teaching at home?

As an anecdote: there has been more than one time when teaching about the permanence of marriage that I've had parents extremely upset with me (on a couple of occasions to the point of going to the Religious Education director trying to get me fired). Why? Apparently it wasn't charitable for me to teach that a person who was divorced and remarried was living in a state of adultery and should not receive Holy Communion (unless, of course, the first marriage was annulled -- i.e., formally recognized as an invalid marriage). Particularly when little 7th grade Johnny or Susie brought the subject up then with his/her divorced/remarried parents.

Or when I run into somebody who went through Catholic school from K-12 and who knows literally everything (in their mind) about Catholicism. When something specific comes up, they refuse to listen because, well, they know everything that can be learned. Especially when their assertion of what the Church teaches is exactly 180° out of phase with what the Church actually teaches.

Oh, and by the way, sometimes they end up as Baptists...but usually, they end up as atheists or agnostics.

Great. And I'd like schools to be closed for All Saints Day, Ascension Thursday, Epiphany, Immaculate Conception, and the feast for the local patron saint of the town in which I live.

The funny part about it is that if a Catholic parent wanted to keep his kids out of school for those holidays, they'd have an unexcused absence.

The schools already have a policy in place to not schedule important events on their "holidays" -- and to grant an excused absence. In other words, preferential treatment.

When Monkey County grants this benefit to the muzzies, they will push for the next thing (private prayer rooms -- one for the boys and one for the girls) so their little darlings can pray during the day as they are supposed to.

And to have all the food in the school to be sacrificed to idols halal.

And to change the dress code to be Shariah compliant.

And, in the name of sensitivity, the Monkey County school board will go with each and every one of the requests.

Baptists have been "soul winning" for as long as I can remember.

You're absolutely right and that evangelical attitude is one thing that Catholics can and should adopt (and adapt).

Though I personally think that one of the greatest tragedies is when I encounter an "ex Catholic" who has so many things wrong about Catholicism. When I see that, I want to b**ch-slap the person's parents and his/her religion teachers for falling down on the job.

Someone isn't going to like that!

There are those who will be offended by him saying: What I would like to say to you today… (nb: regardless of what follows, they'd be offended by him saying those words themselves)

They can get over themselves.

Full title: Pope's Address to the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization

I guess somebody decided that my comment was somehow unacceptable. Not sure exactly why, but, whatever.

I had suggested Psalm 2 and Psalm 16.

The point I was getting at was that several years ago I remember Catholics posting articles as “caucus” only to have a non-Catholic post the very same article a few hours later as “open” — and then proceeded to do what they were going to do anyway.

Sorry if you perceived that as “giving you the business” — that was not my intent.

And, as far as “posting and running” — I don’t “post and run.” If a non-Catholic has a legitimate question or has an intelligent point to make, I’ll respond. But otherwise, I just know how to ignore the garbage.

In the words of the illustrious management of this forum, “The demeanor of the poster says more about his own confession than the post says about yours. When he is being rude or mean it drives people away from his confession and towards yours. That is of course if you can resist the urge to meet fire with fire, in which case neither confession is appealing to the lurkers. The poster who “turns the other cheek” wins every single time.”

Brace for flood of comments saying that the Pope doesn’t think Catholics should pray or practice devotions, doesn’t think holiness is important, is a Communist, yadda yadda yadda.

People wonder why I don't put 'caucus' labels on these threads...well, this type of thing will end up having just as much criticism from within the Church as without.

Oh, and by the way, the way I made the opening and closing tags in the previous post was "<" and ">"

How’d you make that natural e that is superscripted?

^<i>e</i>

The Dems appear to be fairly confident that the Republicans will never again attain a majority.

What does that matter? The GOP^e will insist upon being "gentlemen" and won't ever think about taking retribution upon the Dhims...

You dumba$$, McLame, THE WON^™ hasn't moved the "goalposts" at all. The "goal" is the same now as it always has been: unconditional surrender. Just because you're too stupid to see it doesn't mean that it hasn't been that way...

Full title: Almost 30 people injured and 380 arrests in Moscow following clashes between nationalists and police

Pope renews act consecration to Our Lady of Fatima

In front of the image of the Virgin Mary carried to St Peter's Square from Fatima , Pope Francis renewed the Act of consecration to Mary. " Act we carry out with confidence, confident that each of us is precious in your sight and that nothing is alien to you".

"We celebrate with you - he said - the mighty works of God, who never gets tired of bending over mankind, beset by evil and wounded by sin, with mercy to heal and to save it.  Mother embrace with benevolence this act of entrustment that we make today with confidence, before this your image which is so dear to us. We are confident that each of us is precious in your sight and that nothing is alien to you of all that dwells in our hearts.

We are touched by the gaze of your sweet eyes and welcome the comforting caress of your smile. Safeguard our lives in your arms: bless and strengthen every desire for goodness, revitalize and nourish our faith, sustain and brighten the hope that stirs the soul and charity ; guide all of us on the path of holiness. Teach us your same love and preference for the young and the poor, the marginalized and the suffering, for sinners and those whose hearts are lost: gather all under your protection and deliver us all to your beloved Son , our Lord Jesus. "

The Act took place at the end of the Mass celebrated for the " Marian Day" on the occasion of the Year of Faith . The Day began yesterday, when the statue of the Virgin of Fatima arrived in Rome gathering more than 100 thousand people to St Peter's Square, even today.

To them, in the course of the Mass, the Pope spoke of the three "realities" seen "by looking to Mary" who is "one of the wonders of the Lord: "God surprises us, God asks us to be faithful, God is our strength".  This led Francis to reflect on the question "Do I truly let God into my life ? How do I respond to Him ?"; whether " Am I a Christian by fits and starts, or am I a Christian full-time?" in a " culture of the ephemeral, the relative, also takes it toll on the way we live our faith " and if , finally , I know how to give " thanks, praise for what the Lord does for us", because "everything is his gift , He is our strength . "

The first "reality ", therefore, is that " God surprises us ." God surprises us.  It is precisely in poverty, in weakness and  in humility that he reveals himself and grants us his love, which saves us, heals us and gives us strength.  He asks us only to obey his word and to trust in him.             This was the experience of the Virgin Mary.  At the message of the angel, she does not hide her surprise.  It is the astonishment of realizing that God, to become man, had chosen her, a simple maid of Nazareth: not someone who lived in a palace amid power and riches, or who had done extraordinary things, but simply someone who was open to God and put her trust in him, even without understanding everything: "Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word" (Lk 1:38).  God always surprises us, he bursts our categories, he wreaks havoc with our plans.  And he tells us: Trust me, do not be afraid, let yourself be surprised, leave yourself behind and follow me!"

"Today let us all ask ourselves: Do I fear what God might ask of me, or what he does ask of me?  Do I let myself be surprised by God, as Mary was, or do I remain caught up in my own security, in my plans?  Do I truly let God into my life?  How do I respond to him?" .

"The second point is "to remember Christ always and to persevere in faith.  God surprises us with his love, but he asks us to be faithful in following him.  Think of all the times we were excited about something or other, some initiative, some task, but then, at the first sign of difficulty, we threw in the towel.  Sadly, this also happens in the case of fundamental decisions, such as marriage. It is the difficulty of remaining steadfast, faithful to decisions we have made and to commitments we have taken on.  Often it is easy enough to say "yes", but then we fail to repeat this "yes" each and every day."

"Mary said her "yes" to God: a "yes" which upset her simple life in Nazareth, and not only once.  Any number of times she had to utter a heartfelt "yes" at moments moments of joy and sorrow, culminating in the "yes" she spoke at the foot of the Cross.  Here today there are many mothers present; think of the full extent of Mary's faithfulness to God: seeing her only Son on the cross".

"Am I a Christian by fits and starts, or am I a Christian full-time?  The culture of the ephemeral, the relative, also takes it toll on the way we live our faith.  God asks us to be faithful to him, daily, in our everyday actions.  He goes on to say that, even if we are sometimes unfaithful to him, he remains faithful.  In his mercy, he never tires of stretching out his hand to lift us up, to encourage us to continue our journey, to come back and tell him of our weakness, so that he can grant us his strength".

"The last thing: God is our strength.  I think of the ten lepers in the Gospel who were healed by Jesus.  They approach him, and keeping their distance, they call out: "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" (Lk 17:13).  They are sick, they need love and strength, and they are looking for someone to heal them.  Jesus responds by freeing them from their disease.  Strikingly, however, only one of them comes back, praising God and thanking him in a loud voice.  Jesus notes this: ten asked to be healed and only one returned to praise God in a loud voice and to acknowledge that he is our strength.  To know how to give thanks, to give praise for everything that the Lord has done for us".

"Let us look to Mary.  After the Annunciation, her first act is one of charity towards her elderly kinswoman Elizabeth.  Her first words are: "My soul magnifies the Lord" - the Magnificat, a canticle of praise and thanksgiving to God not only for what he did for her, but for what he has done throughout the history of salvation.  Everything is his gift; he is our strength!  Saying "thank you" is so easy, and yet so hard!  How often do we say "thank you" to one another in our families?  How often do we say "thank you" to those who help us, those close to us, those at our side throughout life?  Often we take everything for granted!  This happens with God too".

"Let us invoke Mary's intercession.  May she help us to be open to God's surprises, to be faithful to him each and every day, and to praise and thank him, for he is our strength."

The act of consecration made ​​today by Pope Francis follows those made by John Paul II. The first took place on June 7, 1981 , in Santa Maria Maggiore. The Pope was absent as a result of the assassination attempt on 13 May, but a prayer he had composed for the occasion was read. The act was renewed in Fatima May 13, 1982 and repeated March 25, 1984 in St. Peter's Square in Rome , in spiritual union with all the bishops of the world, including the Russian Orthodox bishops .

 

The schedule can be found here.

You should start making these caucus threads like they do with their little Joel Osteen threads.

Why?

Ps 2:1 Why have the Gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things?

Let 'em rage.