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.

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  1. Typical Anomaly Inactive
    Typical Anomaly
    @TypicalAnomaly

    Hi @jlocked, no offense taken, just wondering about this reference:

    …the Bible seems less preoccupied with Affirmative Action than it is with money— I think if you investigate the numerous references to money you’ll find none disdaining or affirming money itself, after all it has no will nor a conscience. Rather they address the use of money by people and their attitudes about money. Even the famous “…render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasar’s…” is not about money, but the place people should/shouldn’t give money in their lives. We cannot assume because there are many references to money that money is deemed a Good Thing by the Bible. Read the references and let them speak for themselves. Most are quite plain.

    By comparison, slavery is mentioned a number of times. It is not condemned. But the motives of lazy slaves and cruel owners are.  Other references are neutral, simply describing the person’s status.

    The contents of the Bible are not blunt instruments. And statistics about its contents are, well, I think we all know statistics are often misused.

    • #31
  2. dukenaltum Inactive
    dukenaltum
    @dukenaltum

    There is an obdurate willed irrational belief prevalent in the West that the desires of the self destructive emotionally, morally or mentally disturbed and degenerate can not be thwarted in any way by any objective criticism.  This leads to the state compelling by the force of law the grant of protection, consideration and validity superior to the rational understanding of the Human condition past five millennia (5777) of Judeo-Christian civilization.

    At its core it is the anti-human principles of Leftism but it is covered by a cowardice masquerading as tolerance. In 1932 0r 1941, people like Kaine would be personally and quietly opposed to the murderous policies of the various totalitarian states but grant that the victims are guilty of some crime.

    In this culture the Left have the counterfeited corrupted every aspiration and institution to bend them to their will to power.

    • #32
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