Comments on: Feast of St. Vincent DePaul

By: Anne

Anne — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 16:18:01 +0000

I am shocked and saddened that the New Magesterium for many Catholics is the neo- conservative economic policies of the extreme element of the Republican party. I believe whole paragraphs from Recent encyclicals on social justice would be rejected outright, while whatever Rush Limbaugh, Fox News, or the candidates to the extreme right say would be accepted.
Pope Paul VI says LAND EXPROPRIATION from landed estates is demanded when these estates:

A. Are extensive, poorly used, or unused
B. Bring hardship to peoples
C. Are detrimental to the interests of the country
D. Impede the general prosperity

Please read Populorum Progressio and the other recent great papal encyclicals on Social Justice!

By: CW Karla Golay DJM

CW Karla Golay DJM — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 08:36:39 +0000

Some of these posts rebuking His Eminance is disrespectful at least and awfully rude and disdainful and disgraceful at worst. I cannot abide laity acting like this in their political beliefs. Not asking you wealthier anti social, anti poor, kind to accept progressive politics but if you have nothing to offer but criticism and no realistic and workable solutions for the good of the whole body of Christ it would be better if you said nothing at all.

There is no avoiding the inevitable. The evil Bush tax cuts during a time of war or that was NOT paid for and NOT supported by taxes, etc. IS coming to an end and wealthy Americans ARE going to have their taxes go up. This is NOT redistribution, it is NOT socialism. It is paying your fair share and if your unwilling to do this and will vote for anyone, evil or not, who can assist you in keeping your filthy money then it would be better you left the Catholic Church because that is not what we’re about.

The Lord Rebuke You.

Our outreach is for the least, the last, the lost. We can do this by approaching the problems and dealing with the members in the rank and file of the poor who do abuse and misuse the kindness shown them, food,shelter, etc. because of their addictions, mental illness, etc.

Join us….or leave us. We have work to do.

By: Mary Griffin

Mary Griffin — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 12:49:49 +0000

Your Eminence – With all due respect, I feel you are really wrong on this issue. The government has thrown over $1 trillion dollars at poverty in this nation since the 1960′s. The result is that poverty is now increasing, and you think the solution is to throw more money at it? Our government has legalized the killing of unborn children, and more than 60 million have been surgically aborted, and we can only guess at how many have been chemically aborted. How many have been murdered who could be contributing to this society? Don’t you think that is one of the main causes of poverty in this country? You want this government, who has declared war on the Catholic Church, to help the poor? It would be like the early Christians asking Diocletian to help the poor.

I’m sorry, Your Eminence, but this just seems totally wrong to me.

By: Ann M Conte

Ann M Conte — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 03:05:30 +0000

Dear Cardinal Dolan: In March 2012 the Congress adopted the Ryan Budget. On April 16, Bishops Blaire and Pates wrote to Congress:”…major reductions at this time of economic turmoil and rising poverty will hurt the hungry and the poor and vulnerable people in our nation and around the world.” They added that the needs of the poor should “come before assistance to those who are well off and powerful.” On April 16 Bishop Blaire wrote to a congressional committee citing “unacceptable cuts to hunger and nutrition programs” noting that such cuts were “unjustified and wrong” and that the Budget resolution failed to meet the moral criteria established by the Bishops. On May 8 Bishop Blaire, on behalf of the USCCB, referring to to the moral standards set forth in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, declared that “The cuts to programs in the budget resolution fail this basic moral test.” Can you confirm that the comments of the Bishops on the Ryan Budget represent the position of the USCCB ? Respectfully, Ralph G Conte.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 20:14:19 +0000

When Catholics hear the news about the need for big government they will vote accordingly. We should now expect the most pro-death adminstration ever imagined, thanks in part to Cardinal Dolan.

By: Phil

Phil — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 14:27:00 +0000

Cardinal Dolan,

Thank you for emphasizing this very important part of the Catholic faith.

While many Catholics, myself included, may publicly disagree with you on a number of hot button issues of the day, social action service on behalf of those less fortunate than ourselves is an arena where all Catholics can be united, and where we are all eager to follow your leadership.

Our Catholic community could really benefit from a dose of unity these days, so I urge you to continue to use your leadership to focus all of us on the importance of service.

I read recently that Catholic Charities is the second largest provider of social service in the United States, beat only by the federal government. This is an excellent accomplishment which merits much more attention.

So much of what divides the Church today could be healed if we could switch the focus to the goal of becoming the #1 social service provider in the United States. This is an ambitious goal worthy of Catholics.

I can think of no better method for uniting the Church internally, persuading our fellow Americans that the Catholic Church is a leader, a good citizen, and a voice of love that merits their attention and respect.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 14:24:20 +0000

Wow. The comments on this blog post tell me that the American Church is in crisis indeed. We can’t even respond to a relatively apolitical post on the feast of St. Vincent de Paul without a knee-jerk reaction of condemning “socialism” and the “redistribution of wealth” (which the Church is in favor of by the way– see Caritas in Veritate 32, 42)?

It seems that Catholics, at least the ones who read this blog, are in desperate need of catechesis. Maybe this is what Julie was referring to when she spoke of the poor in spirit.

Jesus made painfully clear that our salvation will depend on whether we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, take in the stranger, take care of the sick, and visit the imprisoned. It’s not up for debate.

By: TeaPot562

TeaPot562 — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 23:07:55 +0000

Two parables to consider: Matt 25:31-46 shows that we must consider those in material poverty whomm we are aware of; and Luke 16:19-31 warns us against letting someone in real need “fade into the scenery” because we didn’t notice him/her.
Neither of these parables suggests that we should be lobbying the government to set up additional programs “to help the poor”. IMO any private agency would be more efficient in aiding people in need than the US Federal government. Catholic Relief Services would be a first consideration.
TeaPot562

By: Andrew Humphreys

Andrew Humphreys — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 21:37:01 +0000

Nick Z– You are not hated and please do not carry those labels anymore. Let them go! You are blessed to have a wondeful family, and are doing your best for them.

There are forces at work that I don’t quite understand that seem to keep people apart, and foster hatred. The class warfare aspect is exremely troubling to me, and, Catholics ought to demand an end to it. Looking back at the last 100 years, this type of rhetoric does not end well.

There are abuses at both ends of the spectrum, but we should work to retain the Freedoms that we hold dear and our system of government, even with all of its imperfections. We should strive to understand the struggles each of us endure no matter the economic condition. We must continue to help those in need, and yet express gratitude to those who are in a position to help.

In that very simple way, we will be closer as Catholics, and as members of our larger community.

“Gratitude is the memory of the heart” Jean Massieu

By: Jibreel Riley

Jibreel Riley — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 19:31:02 +0000

this is what happens when you can just drive past poverty at 65 MPH