Comments on: A Prayer for Our Beloved Nation http://blog.archny.org/steppingout/?p=2452 Just another WordPress weblog Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:26:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Mary http://blog.archny.org/steppingout/?p=2452&cpage=1#comment-35807 Mary Tue, 19 Jun 2012 11:55:55 +0000 http://blog.archny.org/steppingout/?p=2452#comment-35807 .....and what about the soul- work? …..and what about the soul- work?

]]> By: Ed Mechmann http://blog.archny.org/steppingout/?p=2452&cpage=1#comment-35516 Ed Mechmann Sat, 16 Jun 2012 14:17:02 +0000 http://blog.archny.org/steppingout/?p=2452#comment-35516 I understand that the President has to be held accountable for the law he signed and now champions (although ironically, he had little to do with its drafting). But the flaws in the law belong to the law, not to the character of the man who happens to occupy 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The law will still be problematic on January 21, 2013, regardless of who occupies that dwelling. That's why I prefer to focus on the law, rather than the man who happened to sign it. I understand that the President has to be held accountable for the law he signed and now champions (although ironically, he had little to do with its drafting). But the flaws in the law belong to the law, not to the character of the man who happens to occupy 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The law will still be problematic on January 21, 2013, regardless of who occupies that dwelling. That’s why I prefer to focus on the law, rather than the man who happened to sign it.

]]> By: Mary http://blog.archny.org/steppingout/?p=2452&cpage=1#comment-35428 Mary Fri, 15 Jun 2012 18:52:04 +0000 http://blog.archny.org/steppingout/?p=2452#comment-35428 It IS Obamacare because it IS "Obama's" and not at all "affordable" and nothing to do with "patient protection" (ask the unborn and soon the sick elderly about that). Obama blew 15 months of his presidency (in my opinion) and got exactly what he wanted. The mandate IS his. The attack on conscience IS his. The abortion policy IS his. The threat to our religious liberty IS his. Most importantly, the assault on the Catholic Church IS his. Since the Church has decided to fight the public fight on Constitutional grounds, anyone officially associated with the Church must be extremely careful about sounding partisan. However, that stance by the institutional Church, does not address a serious spiritual problem for Catholic laity in an election year. If this is not a “your party or your faith” moment, I don’t know what is. Catholics that I see and speak to on Sunday at Mass are woefully ignorant of the innate conflict between Catholic teaching and Obama's policies. Those who do know seem not to hesitate about their lifelong politics and appear headed for the same election day kabuki dance without blinking an eye about the cataclysmic particulars of this administration. Many are genuinely uninformed, too busy with their daily lives, raising families, etc. or too poorly catechized to connect the dots between Church teaching and Obama’s policies -- policies that are in mortal violation of what the Church teaches. Let the work of instructing the sheep begin with our pastors. Let it be spoken from the pulpit clearly, simply and without equivocation. Let it be solely about the non-negotiable issues of human life and marriage. Take the chance that some in the pews will not like it. Remind us of our duty as Catholics to be obedient to Mother Church even when it is hard. Remind us of who we are, our history, our founder and our salvation. This is partisan-talk but for souls. And at the risk of sounding partisan, God bless America. It IS Obamacare because it IS “Obama’s” and not at all “affordable” and nothing to do with “patient protection” (ask the unborn and soon the sick elderly about that). Obama blew 15 months of his presidency (in my opinion) and got exactly what he wanted. The mandate IS his. The attack on conscience IS his. The abortion policy IS his. The threat to our religious liberty IS his. Most importantly, the assault on the Catholic Church IS his.

Since the Church has decided to fight the public fight on Constitutional grounds, anyone officially associated with the Church must be extremely careful about sounding partisan. However, that stance by the institutional Church, does not address a serious spiritual problem for Catholic laity in an election year. If this is not a “your party or your faith” moment, I don’t know what is.

Catholics that I see and speak to on Sunday at Mass are woefully ignorant of the innate conflict between Catholic teaching and Obama’s policies. Those who do know seem not to hesitate about their lifelong politics and appear headed for the same election day kabuki dance without blinking an eye about the cataclysmic particulars of this administration. Many are genuinely uninformed, too busy with their daily lives, raising families, etc. or too poorly catechized to connect the dots between Church teaching and Obama’s policies — policies that are in mortal violation of what the Church teaches.

Let the work of instructing the sheep begin with our pastors. Let it be spoken from the pulpit clearly, simply and without equivocation. Let it be solely about the non-negotiable issues of human life and marriage. Take the chance that some in the pews will not like it. Remind us of our duty as Catholics to be obedient to Mother Church even when it is hard. Remind us of who we are, our history, our founder and our salvation. This is partisan-talk but for souls. And at the risk of sounding partisan, God bless America.

]]> By: Ed Mechmann http://blog.archny.org/steppingout/?p=2452&cpage=1#comment-35422 Ed Mechmann Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:41:33 +0000 http://blog.archny.org/steppingout/?p=2452#comment-35422 Well, after all, it is his mandate. He stood up on a podium and announced it, his White House has repeatedly defended it -- he owns it. Should a public official be immune from criticism by name, just because it's an election year? Actually, by that logic our public officials could never be criticized or praised, since they're always running for re-election. Having said that, though, I have to add that I do not like some of the partisan tone of the religious liberty advocates. I have already scandalized people by saying that I don't care who the President is, as long as the objectionable elements of the law can be eliminated. I also strongly dislike using the term "Obamacare" -- the name of the law is the "Affordable Care Act", and however Orwellian that term may be, that's what we should call it. Well, after all, it is his mandate. He stood up on a podium and announced it, his White House has repeatedly defended it — he owns it. Should a public official be immune from criticism by name, just because it’s an election year? Actually, by that logic our public officials could never be criticized or praised, since they’re always running for re-election.

Having said that, though, I have to add that I do not like some of the partisan tone of the religious liberty advocates. I have already scandalized people by saying that I don’t care who the President is, as long as the objectionable elements of the law can be eliminated. I also strongly dislike using the term “Obamacare” — the name of the law is the “Affordable Care Act”, and however Orwellian that term may be, that’s what we should call it.

]]> By: Bob Kelly http://blog.archny.org/steppingout/?p=2452&cpage=1#comment-35417 Bob Kelly Thu, 14 Jun 2012 22:57:43 +0000 http://blog.archny.org/steppingout/?p=2452#comment-35417 Hi, Ed, You make the point that the 'Fortnight for Religious Freedom' "is not about partisan politics", but on the front page of today's Catholic New York, you are pictured about to give a speech on a podium that says "Stop Obama's HHS Mandate". This reenforces people's fears that this is a partisan effort. bob Hi, Ed,
You make the point that the ‘Fortnight for Religious Freedom’ “is not about partisan politics”, but on the front page of today’s Catholic New York, you are pictured about to give a speech on a podium that says “Stop Obama’s HHS Mandate”. This reenforces people’s fears that this is a partisan effort.

bob

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