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[Catholic Caucus] Feeling sympathetic to Judas and Pontius Pilate? Not so fast.
LifeSite News ^ | May 9, 2018 | Msgr. Charles Pope

Posted on 05/17/2018 9:15:47 AM PDT by ebb tide

May 9, 2018 (National Catholic Register) – Rejoicing in the Easter glow, I hesitate to look back to two figures instrumental in the Passion and Death of the Lord, but I often get questions or comments about Judas and Pilate that demonstrate fundamental flaws in moral reasoning. Many people today either seek to exonerate them for their role in the crucifixion or they sympathize with them, citing what they view as exculpatory evidence.

One approach is to see Judas and Pilate as mere puppets in a play written by God; they were only doing what they had to do. Such a view robs both men of their dignity as free moral agents responsible for their actions (something at the very heart of being human). It also turns God into a kind of monster or manipulator, forcing people to do evil things. Further, it would have God break a fundamental moral principle: that we are not to do evil even if good may come from it. If Judas, Pilate, and others were forced by God to play a predestined role then God would be an evildoer because He would have compelled evil so that good would result.

(Excerpt) Read more at lifesitenews.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic
KEYWORDS: judas; pilate

1 posted on 05/17/2018 9:15:47 AM PDT by ebb tide
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To: ebb tide

To my mind Pilate was nothing more than a Roman administrator who wanted to keep things quiet.


2 posted on 05/17/2018 9:29:34 AM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham (Laws against sodomy are honored in the breech.)
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To: Mr Ramsbotham
To my mind Pilate was nothing more than a Roman administrator who wanted to keep things quiet.

I think that is a fair assessment of Pilate.

3 posted on 05/17/2018 9:35:03 AM PDT by Ouderkirk (Life is about ass, you're either covering, hauling, laughing, kicking, kissing, or behaving like one)
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To: Mr Ramsbotham

Of course, Jesus could have looked at Pilate and said “in 300 years, I will own you” since Constantine did the whole Nicea thing.


4 posted on 05/17/2018 10:56:20 AM PDT by Shark24
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To: ebb tide

Well, God did ‘harden’ Pharaoh’s heart. Who’s to say he didn’t harden Pilate’s?


5 posted on 05/17/2018 11:36:35 AM PDT by sparklite2 (See more at Sparklite Times)
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To: Ouderkirk
I think that is a fair assessment of Pilate.

Which isn't to say he was necessarily a nice guy.

6 posted on 05/17/2018 11:41:34 AM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham (Laws against sodomy are honored in the breech.)
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To: Mr Ramsbotham

I don’t think family connections were the enough to get and keep Pilate as a regional governor. There was a certain ruthlessness/indifference that went with getting there too.


7 posted on 05/17/2018 2:15:19 PM PDT by Ouderkirk (Life is about ass, you're either covering, hauling, laughing, kicking, kissing, or behaving like one)
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To: Ouderkirk
I don’t think family connections were the enough to get and keep Pilate as a regional governor. There was a certain ruthlessness/indifference that went with getting there too.

I'm not sure Prefect of Iudaea was the kind of prized position coveted by high ranking Romans.

8 posted on 05/17/2018 9:37:30 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (President Trump divides Americans . . . from anti-Americans.)
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To: Jeff Chandler
Prefect of Iudaea was the kind of prized position coveted by high ranking Romans.

True...it was the eastern frontier filled with a troublesome population.

9 posted on 05/18/2018 4:34:44 AM PDT by Ouderkirk (Life is about ass, you're either covering, hauling, laughing, kicking, kissing, or behaving like one)
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