Tribulation Times
(Mat 19:14) But Jesus said to them: Suffer the little children, and forbid them not to come to me: for the kingdom of heaven is for such.
A: It means having our priorities in order. Our first obligation is to God. Nothing is more important than that. Every other duty in our life is enriched if we're first faithful to Him and his Church. The greatest gift we can give our nation is the moral witness of our faith—in our words, our choices and our actions. The more authentically we live our Catholic faith, the more truly we contribute to our country as faithful citizens.
Q: You explain what Christ's words, "render unto Caesar," mean. Can you share that here?
A: Christians owe respect and appropriate obedience to secular authority, because that authority ultimately draws its legitimacy from God. But Caesar is not God. Caesar's authority is limited. More to the point: Secular law does not trump God's law. When a nation passes bad laws, Christians have a duty to work to change them. A nation's political life is always an expression of justice or injustice. Catholics need to respect the dignity of other people who have differing views, but that never excuses Catholic silence or inaction in the face of evil public structures, policies or laws.
MORE: Pro-Choice Catholic Politicians and Communion
The debates over denying Catholic politicians communion are marked by ignorance about the church and disregard for the real nature of the Eucharist. If we ignore or deny what the church teaches, we are not "in communion" with the Catholic faith. We separate ourselves from the community of believers. If we receive communion anyway, we engage in a lie.
IN THE NEWS: Denver archbishop not among Democrats' invited clerics to upcoming convention
SEE ALSO: Archdiocese of Denver to hold vigil at largest abortion facility
Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City: "When you talk about protecting innocent human life, this is something that we need to do as human beings. And the fact that the Church has a voice on this issue and a position on this issue, doesn't mean it's an imposing of our beliefs or values, anymore than the effort to break down segregation by the Church was an effort to impose some kind of religious doctrine on the culture or society, but it was us standing up for a fundamental human right," said the archbishop.
After mention was made of his recent public request for the Catholic governor of Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius, to refrain from receiving Communion because of her support for abortion, Archbishop Naumann explained that political choices have ramifications for Catholics.
"Unfortunately, for a Catholic, there's no choice in public life to stand for certain of these issues. And if they can't be retained in office, then they shouldn't want to be retained in office, if that's what is going to have to be compromised to do it."
Bishop of Orlando, Most Rev. Thomas Wenski: "The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must always be opposed."
EDITORIAL: Addressing the oxymoron 'pro-abortion Catholic'
Prayer request? Send an email to: PrayerRequest3@aol.com
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/august.asp?version=31
August 19, 2008(Mat 19:14) But Jesus said to them: Suffer the little children, and forbid them not to come to me: for the kingdom of heaven is for such.
CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY: Catholics who support abortion should not receive Communion, says Archbishop Burke
INTERVIEW EXCERPT: Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., "Render Unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living Our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life"
Q: Describe what it means to be a "faithful citizen."A: It means having our priorities in order. Our first obligation is to God. Nothing is more important than that. Every other duty in our life is enriched if we're first faithful to Him and his Church. The greatest gift we can give our nation is the moral witness of our faith—in our words, our choices and our actions. The more authentically we live our Catholic faith, the more truly we contribute to our country as faithful citizens.
Q: You explain what Christ's words, "render unto Caesar," mean. Can you share that here?
A: Christians owe respect and appropriate obedience to secular authority, because that authority ultimately draws its legitimacy from God. But Caesar is not God. Caesar's authority is limited. More to the point: Secular law does not trump God's law. When a nation passes bad laws, Christians have a duty to work to change them. A nation's political life is always an expression of justice or injustice. Catholics need to respect the dignity of other people who have differing views, but that never excuses Catholic silence or inaction in the face of evil public structures, policies or laws.
MORE: Pro-Choice Catholic Politicians and Communion
The debates over denying Catholic politicians communion are marked by ignorance about the church and disregard for the real nature of the Eucharist. If we ignore or deny what the church teaches, we are not "in communion" with the Catholic faith. We separate ourselves from the community of believers. If we receive communion anyway, we engage in a lie.
IN THE NEWS: Denver archbishop not among Democrats' invited clerics to upcoming convention
SEE ALSO: Archdiocese of Denver to hold vigil at largest abortion facility
Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City: "When you talk about protecting innocent human life, this is something that we need to do as human beings. And the fact that the Church has a voice on this issue and a position on this issue, doesn't mean it's an imposing of our beliefs or values, anymore than the effort to break down segregation by the Church was an effort to impose some kind of religious doctrine on the culture or society, but it was us standing up for a fundamental human right," said the archbishop.
After mention was made of his recent public request for the Catholic governor of Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius, to refrain from receiving Communion because of her support for abortion, Archbishop Naumann explained that political choices have ramifications for Catholics.
"Unfortunately, for a Catholic, there's no choice in public life to stand for certain of these issues. And if they can't be retained in office, then they shouldn't want to be retained in office, if that's what is going to have to be compromised to do it."
Bishop of Orlando, Most Rev. Thomas Wenski: "The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must always be opposed."
EDITORIAL: Addressing the oxymoron 'pro-abortion Catholic'
Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 7- "On Joy-Making Mourning"
23. In the case of tears, as in everything else, our good and just Judge will certainly take into consideration the strength of our nature. For I have seen small tear drops shed with difficulty like drops of blood, and I have also seen fountains of tears poured out without difficulty. And I judged those toilers more by their toil than by their tears, and I think that God does also.Prayer request? Send an email to: PrayerRequest3@aol.com
This month's archive can be found at: http://www.catholicprophecy.info/news2.html.
