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This Year’s Greatest Sermon on Christianity in American Politics
In the face of Tim Kaine’s dangerous duplicity on abortion, some Catholic leaders are sounding the alarm. Listen, for example, to this week’s tremendous sermon by Father John Lankeit, rector of Ss. Simon & Jude Cathedral in Phoenix, AZ — this may just be one of the greatest sermons on Christianity in American politics that you will ever hear and certainly must-listening for any Catholic or Christian voter you know.
Father Lankeit distinguishes between issues of “intrinsic evil” (like abortion) and issues of “prudential judgment” (like affirmative action or immigration policy). He says:
Are you aware that this candidate and this party no longer even bother to say that abortion should be ‘rare’, but that it should be available any time, any place, and up to the last moment that that fully-formed baby remains in the womb? If you do not know which candidate and party I’m referring to, you should consider not voting until you do. Ignorance in this area is unacceptable because ignorance in this area costs millions of babies their lives and jeopardizes the souls of many Catholic voters. On the other hand, if you do know which candidate and party want to promote and expand abortion and you still intend to enable them to continue their war on the unborn with your vote, then it is my duty as a priest to tell you that your soul will be in grave danger, especially if you present yourself at Holy Communion after casting such a vote with the full knowledge of what you are doing. . . .
Every election season when a priest addresses such topics from the pulpit, a certain portion of the population complains that he’s preaching politics. ‘A priest has no business discussing politics in Church.’ That’s what some people say. What does God say to the priest whom he has designated to be a spiritual father for the people entrusted to his care? Here’s what God said to the prophet Ezekiel: “I have made you a watchman for the House of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked men you shall surely die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, the wicked man shall die in his sin, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his sin but you will have saved your life.”
Whoa. Thank you and God bless you, Father Lankeit.
Published in General
Some boldness from the pulpit…finally.
[Redacted by Author for Stupidity]
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Can you think of another way to explain what you’re thinking? I think you left out a few steps between the OP and your comment.
Troll.
That is one of the most powerful homilies I’ve ever heard.
For the life of me, I can’t figure out what you are trying to say in response.
Im sorry. I have no quarrel with anyone here opposed to these hot button points of cultural contention. We all are the products of free will and our environments. My fellow members have different outlooks on how to be a good Christian, and I wouldn’t attempt to challenge their God given experiences and notions. However, from the Bible to St. Ignatius, it is my understanding that the best way to proselytize is by charity and example. And the Bible seems less preoccupied with Affirmative Action than it is with money (mentioned more than Hell). I’m not against prosperity, but I am a firm believer in the Jack Welch model of duty to Company, Product, and employees. In this we convert hearts and minds by creating a better way to live rather than drive those out because they don’t meet our exacting standards. If you want to decrease abortion or iradicate governmental excess, the Bible is an excellent tool—but not as a yard stick—as a motivational resource and guide.
Troll it is, then.
I truly regret my comments if you think that is my intention. I only criticize the opinions of Contributors–never fellow members.
It isn’t about criticism, per se, as to why the troll label, it’s using this post as a vehicle for garbled ideas unrelated to the homily at issue.
I’m happy to see you make a full post of this Louis. I also posted the homily video over here on a post by @thekingprawn. You are correct, it is so good it needs to be spread far and wide.
You due realize in the old testament when they talk about altars of Baal that these were alters that babies were cooked alive on. It was assumed the reader knew the evil practices of human sacrifice that went along with worshiping Asher and Baal alters. Therefor it was very clear in the prophets the punishment should be death for this practice. It was only by Gods mercy that he had not pore out is wrath yet on the population. Claiming the Bible is not a yard stick for morality is blatant heresy when it comes to traditional doctrine for almost all denominations. So basically you have your beliefs that might be somewhat or largely based on Judaeo-Christian tradition but they are not in the lest bit Christian.
Lastly the bible is full of political thought and precepts the Torah is a legal document. Yes there is more in it about money but that includes many scriptures about money in politics/world systems.
Superb! Truth!!
Thanks for posting Louis.
We had an assistant priest (Parochial Vicar since promoted to his own parish) who had come to us from the Boston area. When asked what differences he saw between his previous posting and his current one, he flatly stated, “You say a prayer to end abortion during each Mass. Back there you couldn’t even mention abortion much less pray to end it.” Sad.
You are absolutely right. I was brought up as a Methodist and my views are strictly New Testament and used to help other people. This doesn’t make me right or mean I’m going to Heaven. I don’t mean to challenge any ones religious views at all. I posited mine against a contributor’s and am truly sorry if I offended you.
I think it’s fine you posted your thoughts, and I’ll take them seriously because I don’t think you did this with ill will.
Welcome!!!
To let you know something about me, I was baptized a Methodist but converted to Catholicism. This means I’m very familiar with both faith traditions. We serve the same Christ.
However, in this particular homily, the priest is addressing Catholics specifically. Since the 1st century, the church has viewed abortion as a grave evil.
This does not mean that the church has no compassion for women. In fact, Pope Francis has spent a lot of time this last year reaching out to women who have had abortions to say quite loudly that they are the daughters of God. They are loved and cherished.
But abortion is still a sin.
If a politician–Tim Kaine, say–wants to embrace a different faith tradition, that is fine. But when one says one is a Catholic, one is embracing doctrine as it has been defined for centuries… not how one thinks the church now ought to be per political pressures.
When listening to this homily, I sort of felt like I did when I first watched The Office (cringe). I’ve been too long away from priests and other holy teachers that offer such a challenge to society so directly. I wish this wasn’t so rare and because of your post, @Louis Beckett realize I have to go and live in like teaching again, for my soul’s sake.
Tim Kaine sounded really torn about executing a serial killer at least. Abortion not so much. A real Catholic do gooder. Also a real stickler about pushing religious views onto others evidently. Now making folks bake gay cakes or lose their business….my guess he’s fine with.
My apologies again. Once I realized this was Catholic Homily I deeply regretted trespassing my beliefs. I have great respect for Catholic tradition. As a counselor for Veterans, Confession represents the ultimate therapy model. I would delete what I said but it would be disingenuous to those I’ve already offended. Please forgive my idiocy.
Thank you Patrick. I greatly appreciate it. God bless you.
As far as Catholics are concerned the Catechism of the Catholic Church should be their guide on faith and morals. Tim Kaine has no authority to teach regardless of his Catholic education.
Prudential judgement on casting a ballot for example is if both candidates for an elected office were pro-life than casting a ballot for either candidate is not a problem.
Tim Kaine has another problem and that is he uses the Jesuits as cover for his schismatic, and heretical views. There may be some Jesuits that share Mr. Kaine’s shallow Catholicism there are many more that do not. Ultimately Mr. Kaine is responsible for his public pronouncements on abortion. He commits the sin of scandal by leading Catholics to believe that his views on abortion are principled and dependent upon his misguided conscience, and what he believes Catholicism teaches.
To label someone as schismatic or heretical as a Catholic does not apply to non-Catholics. Mr. Kaine has been baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church. Non- Catholics may hold views that would be considered heresy but unless they have been baptized into the Catholic Church they cannot be labeled as a heretic.
One more thing the word troll is not a proper response to an argument or assertion that you don’t agree with. Ask someone to clarify their argument or define your own terms and beliefs and ask for a response.
I am reading into your point so you can correct me if I am wrong. What a quixotic comment. Apparently the Catholic Church’s two millennia of lifting up, healing, educating and sustaining the poor globally has no merit and the only real solution for the poor is to murder their children.
Before there was a New Testament the Church condemned abortion and contraception in 70 A.D. in the Didache at a time when it was rampant and widely accepted by the Pagan Graeco-Roman Culture. . A teaching which all Christian Churches held until the twentieth century just when the science of the embryology proved the genius of the original teaching on Abortion and contraception. It might be interesting to note that all of the trendiest Sexual mores of the 21st Century were the common standard of indecency for the Roman Empire.
“Now the second precept of the teaching is: “ You will not murder. You will not commit adultery.“ You will not sodomize young boys. You will not have unlawful sex. “ You will not steal.“ Do not practice magic (contraceptio). Do not practice sorcery. Neither murder a child by abortion, nor will you destroy what is born.” Didache 70AD.
I apologized and owned up to my ungracious response. I guess you missed that. See comment 20.
Please accept my apology. I did not mean to insult Catholic faith. Through my misguided ideas, I believed I was clarifying it. I have great respect for Catholicism.
It was my fault for opening my big mouth about a faith I don’t belong to. Should I delete my comments? I really don’t want to be a source of Christian contention. God bless you all.
You don’t need to delete your comments apologies have been extended, I don’t think anyone has hard feelings about this.
Thanks for pointing this out to me.
APOLOGIES ALL AROUND GENTLEMEN! This is one of the reasons I love Ricochet. We had a mutual misunderstanding, but instead of getting more upset and entrenched in our positions, we reached out to each other. @jlocked leave your comments up. They lead to some good discussion.