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Published: July 22, 2010
Who cares what the Church teaches?
Poll shows 62% of Catholics want to keep California’s liberal abortion laws -- or make getting abortions even easier
 Forty-eight percent of self-identified Catholics oppose any changes to California’s liberal abortion laws, and 14% say the law should make it even easier for women to get abortions, a Field Poll released yesterday revealed.
Just 34% of poll respondents who identified themselves as Catholics said state law should be changed to make getting an abortion more difficult, while 4% had no opinion one way or the other, according to the Field Poll results.
The results were part of an overall portrait of California residents, painting them as one of the most pro-abortion electorates in the U.S. “There has been no change in California voters long-standing support for allowing women the right to a legal abortion,” said a summary of the results released yesterday by the Field Poll. “About seven in ten voters (71%) favor making no change to the state’s current abortion laws or making abortion easier to obtain. In addition, a similar 71% endorse the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that granted women a constitutional right to abortion.”
The California results buck a national trend, where polls taken in recent years show that, overall, Americans have become increasingly pro-life.
The Field Poll did turn up some slivers of anti-abortion sentiment in the state. “The largest proportions of voters who take a contrary view and advocate making abortion harder to obtain exist among strong conservatives (52%), those who identify strongly with the Tea Party protest movement (48%), Vietnamese-Americans (45%), Republicans (40%), supporters of Carly Fiorina for U.S. Senate (39%), supporters of Meg Whitman for Governor (38%), moderate conservatives (37%) and Latinos (36%),” according to the Field Poll.
The poll was conducted between June 22 and July 5, and queried 1,390 registered voters across the state.
Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 12:07 AM By Central valley
Who cares what the Church teaches? Many don't know or have never been told what the Church teaches.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 3:13 AM By Mary Jo
Every Catholic has the obligation to follow their own conscience, but along with this obligation goes the obligation to make sure that one's conscience is properly formed by knowing what the Church teaches on matters of faith and morals. The three sources are scripture, tradition, and the magisterium of the Church. For Central Valley to make the statement that "Who cares what the Church teaches?..." is indees very sad to me. I am deeply disturbed to think that fellow Catholics do not care enough about their faith to take the time to find out what the Church teaches. This can be done by asking a priest or deacon, reading good Catholic literature, or attending an adult education program. If none are offered in a particular parish then ask the pastor to arrange for adult update classes. May God help us all.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 4:19 AM By Ron
Evidently there are many thousands of Pelosi look-a-likes in California. Christ's Church is continuously under attack from within and from without. Satan must have smiled when he read those poll results. God Bless, and may He save the unborn, the infirm, and the elderly.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 4:46 AM By Robert Bushlow
That is because they are not hearing Authentic Catholic Teaching in the Sunday homilies. I pray, and let us all pray, that our Bishops will instruct the priests to give the authentic Catholic teaching on contraception, abortion and all of today's non-negotiable issues from the pulpit each and every Sunday.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 5:11 AM By Ray Marshall
Not surprising considering that, nationally, only 25-20% regularly attend Mass on Sundays. Probably less in California.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 5:20 AM By John O
Sad. Priests and Bishops need to speak up. Many priests are too wimpy to speak up, worried that their congregations will be offended. Let them be offended - but I think priests would be surprised by the numbers in their pews that would thank them for standing for something.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 7:07 AM By Donald Casillo
California has a big split in the ground (San Andreas fault), and if it breaks open and wipes out half the State, don't ask why us Lord?
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 7:53 AM By Bob Fasanello
These are the "educated" Catholics, who have access to all information about the faith and the teaching of the church. They won't be able to claim invincible ignorance at the time of their particular judgment. And woe to those who have been charged with teaching the faith to these "Catholics!" Much prayer and penance is needed on behalf of these poor souls. May God have mercy on us all.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 8:00 AM By Sawyer
For these results we have tepid preaching, diocesan "justice" offices, and dissenting catechists to thank.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 8:05 AM By Camille
Like most reports on polls, this one did not tell us who commissioned the poll or what the questions were, so how do we know just how accurate these statistics are?
Information about age groupings might also have been interesting because word on the street has it that the younger generations are becoming more pro life as they have seen the consequences the abortion industry as inflicted on those women and men engaging in abortion.
Those of us who are pro life should be demanding that our Bishops and priests get off the immigration hype and back onto the human life is precious, don't kill us, message.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 9:11 AM By JLS
Central valley, that seems to be correct, and it is such ill informed and slothful Catholics who send the same to the seminaries ... to preach and teach sloth and ignorance instead of the Gospel.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 9:31 AM By Bud
Why do so many like to claim that they are Catholic when they are not. Secondly, What poll????? Statistics usually prove what you want them to.......................
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 9:47 AM By Willi H
This is the result of: 1. Liberalization of the Church due to Vatican II (or liberal interpretations and implementations of the same), 2. The Hierarchy's inaction (excommunications, censures, etc.) against prominent "Catholic" politicos that claim fidelity to the Church but support infantide, sodomy, and sexual "liberation", and 3. The pastors and Bishops not teaching the moral absolutes of the Church. These Catholics in the study were probably taught this fuzzy thinking in their respective parishes (if they go to Mass at all).
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 9:48 AM By Maryanne Leonard
Most Catholics are also fully aware of the culture surrounding us, and we must be assisted in sifting out our thoughts and shocked reactions as the world changes around us, not for the better. A solid educational foundation in Church teachings is not only a huge help in dealing with a world gone mad, it is essential in resisting being influenced by the evil we see all around us. It is our task to gird our loins, be sure of the righteousness of our values, and go forth and try to spread the Word. The values of the Catholic Church are the right values to save the world. We are the carriers of the message, and we are the soliders on the front lines. Please take this task seriously and go help the world change from evil thought such as murdering babies, and having sex outside of marriage. Join the cause!
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 10:03 AM By David
Most Catholics in the U.S. don't know what they believe. It probably changes from day to day and according to which TV program they watched last night. Yes, they should know what the Church teaches, but our culture has become so overwhelmingly relativistic, they unwittingly join Pontius Pilate in asking "What is truth?" This is a time when all faithful Catholics are especially called on to become apostles, and to be able to respond to Pilate's question.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 10:05 AM By Rose
Mary Jo, CV was only quoting the title of this article I believe and forgot the quote marks.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 10:10 AM By Peter
If the next massive earthquake sends this state to the bottom of the sea, it will deserve it.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 10:31 AM By Mike
It would appear that your misguided pollster forgot to define what is a Catholic before he asked the question. Clearly this poll has no merit based on the hundreds of practicing Catholics that I know but most importantly the teaching of the Church whose authority comes from Chist follow His teaching which opposes the views you profer.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 10:36 AM By Barbara
Before Vatican II "fresh air" was ushered in, the Catholic thinking was not in this state of disarray. Everyone knew abortion was wrong, no ifs, ands, or buts -- probably because of that pesky place called Hell that nobody believes in anymore.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 10:44 AM By JLS
I wouldn't mind the big split, after which I expect to have beachfront property instead of desert.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 10:48 AM By Eric H
This appears to be just one more example how Catholics are becoming even more irrelevant as time goes by. Need another example? Same sex marriage is now an option in Argentina which is 90% Catholic and follows both Spain and Portugal, both overwhelmingly Catholic.
A recent survey indicates the aggressive action of the Catholic Church during the debate in Argentina and other countries including the United States only exacerbates loathing that already exists within the population towards the Catholic church.
The first country in Latin America will inspire other countries in the region to follow suit. It is more difficult to lead and more difficult to be first. But once now ground has been broken, there is less fear for others to follow. The bell has been rung. An idea can not be silenced.
How will the acceptance of same sex marriage in countries that seem to be more conservative than the US play out in the land of religious freedom?
BTW, where is the Catholic support for the current California initiative to ban divorce? If gay people and straight people too, could not get divorced, perhaps they would never marry. This would be a win/win for the Catholic church. NO?
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 10:51 AM By Ski Ven
My Priest is not wimpy. He is confrontational.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 11:09 AM By Jimmy Mac
Bottom line: church teachings are not persuasive nor compelling to most people.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 11:09 AM By Rick DeLano
This is simply demoralizing. I think it would be very helpful for every Bishop in the United States of America to offer his resignation to the Holy Father in the face of this. Let them send their resignations directly to Rome, via a hand-picked delegation. Let the Holy Father retain those whom he will retain, and replace those whom he will replace. The post-Conciliar "collegial" Church, as exemplified in the USCCB, *has failed*. Time for some good old fashioned monarchy.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 12:16 PM By pete
I have to agree with Jimmy Mac. What is needed is a new kind of apologetics, based on the Scholastic principle "whatever is received is received in the manner of the receiver", which means one has to find out how the receiver thinks and then OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE VISION THAT MEETS THEIR UNDERSTANDING. It won't necessarily mean they accept it; but it will make them think.
the reason why the young are turning against abortion is they now begin to understand there is a realy baby in there because of sonograms and also what the emotional devastation it brings to peers who've had it. BUT THESE SAME YOUTH CONTINUE TO HAVE BABIES OUT OF WEDLOCK AND THINK GAY COUPLES ARE OK.
That's so because they think sex is really just for intimate feelings of love.So they need to have an alternative understanding of love and THEN CONNECT IT TO REPRODUCTION or they likely won't find the argument compelling. AND one has to face the possibility many of them may be too far gone to understand UNLESS THEY GET A SHARP DOSE OF REALITY, which is beginning to happen now more and more.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 12:22 PM By JLS
I continue to maintain the hypothesis that Vatican Council II was the ringing of the bell of a great culling of Catholics in name only from the pews. You cannot wave a wand over someone and make them a Catholic, despite what PA claims.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 1:07 PM By Peterp
Pete - Reality is what is causing the apostasy. As I have tried to demonstrate, when church teachings are directly contradicted by personal experience, they carry no weight. And with dogma, when one principle falls in the face of personal experience, all fail.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 1:31 PM By Dcn Juan
Do not worry or be afraid. This is nothing new, Jesus have stated clearly in Scriptures. We should not put the blame or burden on any one person e.i. bishop, priests or Vatican II, it is our call by our own Baptist's. We must not fall asleep while the Devil is on the loose. He does not sleep, neither should we. We should always remember that we are on the winning side. It is for us all to claim victory. Viva Cristo Rey.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 1:33 PM By Steve Strubing
Interesting stats, that those who call themselves Catholic could even think about murdering a human being. It was the same group and their screwed up thinking that gave Obama the Presidency. Ladies and Gentlemen, to be Roman Catholic one MUST Adhere to the Moral and Faith Doctrines of Church. These individuals are only fooling themselves.
They are the same as the Devil, when he told God : I will not serve! God's Moral Laws and the Natural Law must be obeyed are men & women are enemies of God.
If one dies in that state they go to Hell for all eternity with the devil and his minions.
It is true that everyone has FREE WILL which allows individuals to make a choice, for God or against God. Christ Himself said that the Road to Heaven was Rocky and FEW Find it.....
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 1:59 PM By Grisha
JLS - You don't wave a wand. A priest pours holy water over them.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 2:14 PM By Tracy
I have gone to daily Mass since age 20. I have encountered daily Communicants who also include sacristans, Eucaristic ministers and lectors who strongly support a womans right to choose. I most recently encountered a pastor, who to his credit, was honest and admitted that he doesn't believe that abortion is a mortal sin. He did ask for my prayers. So poll or no poll, I have known for some time now that we have a problem. I have recently become active in the prolife movement and can tell you that while most of these "Catholics" are not crazy about killing babies, they have bought into the oft repeated lie that abortion helps women and keeps them safe. Nothing is further from the truth. I am convinced that to win the hearts of these people we will have to show them that women and teenagers are hurt and exploited by abortion. A good educational outreach on this subject is a website called the Unchoice. They have great resources for parishes. Also google bloodmoney. Unfortunately, the murder of an innocent unborn person just won't move these people. Of course Pray, Pray, Pray! And speak up in truth and charity.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 2:32 PM By joe DeCarlo
Most of those Catholics polled are not practicing Catholics. They were baptized Catholics but that's about it.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 2:44 PM By Harry
Eric H, you are wrong in saying Catholic teaching is becoming more irrelevant. Quite the opposite. True, it is becoming more unpopular. There is a big difference between that and becoming irrelevant. In fact, the more society strays into destructive lifestyles and practices the more relevant it is to proclaim the truth and preserve it. Church teaching has often been extremely unpopular, and if it were not for a "remnant" who remained faithful in the face of often violent opposition it would probably have been lost. It is a grave mistake to think that because so many people reject Church teaching it therefore must be irrelevant. Scripture and Church history abound with stories that prove how erroneous that idea is.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 3:45 PM By Gil
At risk of repeating what others have said, I must disagree with the writer who opined, "I am deeply disturbed to think that fellow Catholics do not care enough about their faith to take the time to find out what the Church teaches. This can be done by asking a priest or deacon, reading good Catholic literature, or attending an adult education program."
It might be nice if Catholics made the effort. It would be even nicer if their priests used the 20 or so minutes a week during which they have the ears of their congregants to inform them. Having each week's Gospel re-read to you, immediately after its reading, is unlikely to be as informative (or as formative) as some good, solid preaching of doctrine. When was the last time anybody here heard such?
Not within living memory in my parish.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 4:19 PM By Mark from PA
Gil, our priests usually explain the gospels and other readings to us as part of their preaching. I have found that I have learned a lot from the homilies at Mass. We also have a very good Bible study in the spring and fall. However, only about 20 to 30 people take part out of 6000 in our parish. We have had some good adult education programs in regards to social justice issues in our parish.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 4:58 PM By Eric H
Harry, it may be true that Catholicism may become more relevant to some during their troubled times, it is currently becoming more irrelevant to many more. And I do agree with you that it is becoming more unpopular. The most recent stats I have seen show those who have left Catholicism outnumber those who have joined the Catholic Church by nearly a four-to-one margin. This is an extraordinary attrition rate.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 5:01 PM By John
Wake up people of California and the rest of America and the world. Abortion kills the unborn! A God of love, hope and mercy is a very patient God, but he won't allow this mockery to go on for ever. Pray for the people of California. Pray for the people of America. Pray for the people of the world. To the Lord a day is as a thousand years. Wake up for the time is short. Fifty million abortions since Roe versus Wade was passed in 1973. Only in America. What a pity. Wake up!
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 5:35 PM By Rose
If a poll had been taken when Jesus was on the earth to see how many believed in Him, would it have made a difference as to how His Church has survived for 2,000 years and will til the end of time! Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless Glory!!!!
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 6:30 PM By Mark from PA
Tracy, you actually talked to a Catholic priest who didn't think that abortion was a mortal sin? I find that amazing. Didn't he know that the 5th Commandment is, "Thou shalt not kill?" We often hear pro-life sermons in church.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 7:06 PM By Brad
"In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21:25) and "Pilate saith to him, 'What is truth?'" (John 18:38). In Judges, we see Israel devolved to the point of lawless, prophet-less idolatry, and in John we see Roman paganism, the pathetic height of what the non-Christian world could come up with. Alas that 2000 years after the only objective Truth ever, God incarnate as Emmanuel, we are back to Judges and John. The world is overwhelmingly pagan in so far as subjectivity is paganism's bitter blight. There are overwhelming numbers of men in the world today who do not acknowledge the objective Trinity and His objective morality. There is also a very high percentage of katholic pew sitters who acknowledge the Trinity but loathe Christ's Church and her authoritative teachings. These are the fools who either don't believe in evil or believe evil to be amazingly rare: as HRC would say, abortion should be "safe, legal, and rare", knowing that it is anything but rare. By account of Marian apparitions, hell is brimming. "For wide is the gate..."
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 7:12 PM By WOODY GUIDRY
I suppose that just because only a few comments refer to the polls as being a reflection of CALIFORNIA Catholics, it is NOT a sign that everybody else thinks it is referring to ALL U.S. Catholics. Of course, the poll identifies itself as being just for California and states that the general poplulation polls show that more and more of us are becoming pro-life. Just my own opinion, but I think this is a unique chance to identify those things which make the state's position DIFFERENT from the others.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 7:20 PM By JLS
Jesus is on the earth, Rose. He is in Heaven and on earth.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 7:23 PM By Rose
Amen JLS!
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 7:26 PM By JLS
Saaaayyy whaaat?! Tracy says, "a pastor, who to his credit, was honest and admitted that he doesn't believe that abortion is a mortal sin": That is utter dishonesty, Tracy. It is hypocrisy of the basest sort, the foulest thing ... a man purporting to minister on behalf of Jesus perpetrating the lie that it is honest to admit not believing abortion to be a mortal sin?! That guy is one cheap deceiver, Tracy. Honesty is believing what the Church teaches.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 7:36 PM By JLS
Rose, I know that you know there are not really any sufficient phrases to say what you were getting at, and I know you know. I wonder why it is. Maybe so we can amplify the truth with extra explanations.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 7:37 PM By JLS
Grisha, I wish you'd'a read literary stuff instead of sociology, so that you would understand metaphor and symbolic expression. That seems to be a pattern for many social program at the expense of doctrine Catholics.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 7:38 PM By Wm. Hamilton
Yeah, Woody, sure. How much of the Catholic vote did Pres. Obama get in 2008? MOST OF IT! And what's worse, the more Catholic the state, the better Obama did. Let's face facts: The AmChurch has done a bad job of catechizing the faithful.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 7:40 PM By JLS
I'm gonna start calling it "poll dancing", they dance around the truth by constructing a poll. It is like they are dancing around the Maypole, but without realizing that the real springtime for life is Jesus.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 7:44 PM By JLS
Can somebody explain why the faithful have no responsibility to inform themselves? Why don't the faithful have the wherewithall to discern true doctrine from false doctrine? Why don't the faithful have the desire to know the truth? In this I do not see how we can blame the bishops and priests for lying to the faithful ... are they really the faithful? Now if a bishop preaches or enables false doctrine, isn't there some sort of latae sententiae sort of thing for him? If a bishop preaches and teaches error, is he then really in charge of those who suck up his error? Who is in charge of the real Church when a diocesan bishop teaches lies?
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 8:02 PM By Rose
JLS, each one has a calling to seek The Truth, why they don't have the desire, I don't know. Maybe there's not enough prayer these days, maybe people are so caught up in materialism and are lazy and too comfortable, too busy to make time or to hear The Lord calling them. As far as the bishops that don't lead us in His Way, a consoling thought comes to my mind a lot from Ezekiel, Ch.34. When the shepherds of Israel were not tending to His people, The Lord said, "I Myself will look after and tend my sheep. Praise Him!
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 8:57 PM By Brad
54% of Catholics voted Obama.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 9:42 PM By L. Beck
The truth is that biblical illiteracy has been normative for most of Christian history. For most of the last one-thousand years, many Christians, especially in Catholic traditions, were discouraged from reading the Bible in the vernacular languages. The noted historian of European literacy, Robert Allan Houston, observes, both clergy and laity normally equated illiteracy with orthodoxy.
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Posted Thursday, July 22, 2010 11:38 PM By Terence Weldon
The same organization has also reported that Californians, including Catholics, support the death penalty, by an even wider margin.
Where is the outrage about that? Or is your pro-life, support out bishops, stance a selective one? (US bishops have been clear that the death penalty contravenes Church teaching for at least 25 years)
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Posted Friday, July 23, 2010 3:18 AM By WOODY GUIDRY
TERENCE WELDON, may I ask if you are not the same Terence Weldon who has had lot to say about the OBTUSE bishops who declare that marriage means ONLY between a man and woman, etc.? If so, you have a huge credibility gap-when do we discover that your attitude is not the same as that which headlines "Queer" publications on the Internet? The word, "Queer" is placed where it HAS to be seen on the site. Your questions can be answered only when you are NOT discovered as the person of the same name as yours on the multiple sites who cries out about the foul creed of the Catholic Church.
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Posted Friday, July 23, 2010 6:53 AM By M A D
Do most people truly understand what an abortion is? If "they" saw pictures, videos, etc. would they still condone the taking of
an innocent human life. Abortion is an intrinsic evil. The death penalty is not. How many times does the average Catholic hear from the pulpit about abortion? If priests had the courage to catechis from the pulpit, perhaps there would be a better understanding what an evil abortion is and how it destroys not only the life of the unborn but the life of the mother and father as well. EWTN is on 24/7 and has many wonderful programs that teach and explain our Catholic faith. It is available to all who have a television set.
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Posted Friday, July 23, 2010 8:27 AM By L. Beck
Biblical literacy is an agenda that thrived, at best, in a window between the Protestant reformation and the dawn of the post-colonial era. Biblical illiteracy was not always regarded as a bad thing, and “our civilization” has survived just fine. Now, “our civilization” must be conceived more globally, and so biblical illiteracy is returning to the normative role it had in most of Western history.
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Posted Friday, July 23, 2010 8:49 AM By Abeca Christian
Here we go again talking about the death penalty and many still don't really understand the teachings of the church regarding it. Not fascinating.
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Posted Friday, July 23, 2010 8:53 AM By JLS
The outrage over the death penalty!!! How does T Weldon stack up a very few state executions against a hundred thousand state sponsord baby butcherings annually?
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Posted Friday, July 23, 2010 8:55 AM By JLS
LBeck, the devil loves illiteracy of the Word of God and it is something the craven souls hide behind because it shines a light on the evil they love. And you admit that a civilization that butchers babies by the millions has survived just fine? Looks like you could use some Bible literacy yourself.
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Posted Friday, July 23, 2010 9:29 AM By Abeca Christian
M A D some people don't understand what an abortion is because this society has labeled, any pictures or videos showing the horrors of it, as too graphic, therefore not making it acceptable or allowing it to be taught or shown. Not to long ago we had a Catholic parish getting angry at a pro-lifer that drove a van with pictures of an aborted baby, they found that not accepting and wanted the gentlemen to stop parking it near by. They train us that it is too graphic to show, yet we complain when people don't understand what an abortion really is and what it really does.
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Posted Friday, July 23, 2010 9:36 AM By Abeca Christian
I'm pro-life and I'm for the death penalty under the guidelines and teachings of the faith as stated from the early Church Fathers!
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Posted Friday, July 23, 2010 1:22 PM By L. Beck
Latinos also are part of perhaps one of the greatest revolutions in the history of Christianity insofar as their rate of conversion from Catholicism to Protestantism may exceed what happened in Europe in the sixteenth century when Protestantism first arose. These changes are already affecting everything from the recent presidential elections to the cultural fabric of small towns in the Midwest.
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Posted Friday, July 23, 2010 1:23 PM By Bruce
Our Lord says so much regarding this article and its blogs: Matthew Chapter 7: "[14] How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it! [15] Beware of false prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves". {Are these those whom you speak of Rick?}
Matthew Chapter 7 continued: "[16] By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? [17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and the evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit. [19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and shall be cast into the fire. [20] Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them". {Notice our Lord specifically mentioned "tree" not a "branch of a tree". What does this imply?} Matthew Chapter 7 continued: "[21] Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. [22] Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity. [24] Every one therefore that heareth these my words, and doth them, shall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock, [25] And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock". [26] And every one that heareth these my words, and doth them not, shall be like a foolish man that built his house upon the sand, [27] And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall thereof. Pray for Catholics in name only
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Posted Friday, July 23, 2010 4:02 PM By Abeca Christian
Bruce thank you for the quoting these beautiful scripture passages, you have fed us today with the word of God. I know that it took a lot of work just to type them and for that very reason, I appreciate your love and desire to carry out a message of truth. If anyone has not read from the word of God today, then Bruce did a beautiful job today so we can. For that I am grateful.
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Posted Friday, July 23, 2010 6:26 PM By Brad
To Terrence Weldon: READ the sections in the CCC for abortion and death penalty, respectively. There is a world of difference and anyone who accepts the CCC and takes Communion should know that.
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Posted Friday, July 23, 2010 11:27 PM By Abeca Christian
Since we are on the topic of what the church teaches, here we go: Fridays Are Still Days Of Penance – Ask almost anyone and they will tell you that Catholics are no longer required to abstain from meat on Fridays throughout the year. However, the current Code of Canon Law (CIC) states that, with the exception of solemnities, “All Fridays through the year and the time of Lent are penitential days and times throughout the entire Church.” (CIC 1250) Furthermore, “Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless they are solemnities.” (CIC 1251) In the United States, the bishops have declared that it is permissible to substitute some other form of penance, but we are still urged to fast from “something” in remembrance of the Lord’s death on the cross.
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Posted Friday, July 23, 2010 11:30 PM By Abeca Christian
I CARE WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES: Any one care to explain and give any examples of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost??? Any takers? Here is what scripture says: Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. This is the truth. Peace be with you
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Posted Saturday, July 24, 2010 12:11 AM By JLS
Pishah, L. Beck, Catholicism transformed the entire western world in the course of two centuries. "Everything"? The times we live in amount to a drop in a bucket compared to the history of people. It is an age that has seen its day, and has not lasted even close to the length of time owned by ancient Greece, Rome, Europe. Great Civilizations are always gobbled up by less "civilized" hordes that sweep in and take over from the lazy couch potatoes. That is all that is happening now. It makes very little difference who is president or who is in congress or who is on the court. The population pressure is beyond all these individuals and relatively small powerheads ... the sands of time await no man. The only thing that has ever made a difference in society began with Abraham and took full force with St Paul. Jesus guarantees only the Church; no other individuals or organizations have any such guarantee. But you won't live to see whether it is real or not ... well it is possible, but not so likely that the end of time will happen soon; however, it will happen sooner for each of us than we expect. Life, L. Beck, is preparation for eternity; Jesus has been doing His part, and you have to do yours to gain a ticket to the big banquet in the sky. Your absurd suspense thriller style of rhetoric is amusing. Keep it up and you'll learn nothing and see nothing.
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Posted Saturday, July 24, 2010 5:00 AM By Mark from PA
You made a good point, Terence. The Church says that we are to respect the life and dignity of all people. This includes the unborn, prisoners, the elderly, the poor, the disabled, gay people. All of us. All life is precious.
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Posted Saturday, July 24, 2010 8:39 AM By Mea Culpa
Yes, PA, we are to respect the dignity of those trapped in slavery to the sin of homosexual behavior. We do this by praying for them and also by proclaiming the truth about their sinful lifestyle. "Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not continue in the house fore ever; the son continues for ever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:34 People do not have to be defined by their slavery to homosexuality, any more than their slavery to any other sin. They can cast off their old, sinful ways and be new creations in Christ.
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Posted Saturday, July 24, 2010 9:17 AM By JLS
The dignity of gay people can only be realized in their efforts towards living in the image and likeness of God, and not in being gay. The gayness needs to be culled, pruned away to leave what God intends.
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Posted Saturday, July 24, 2010 9:21 AM By Brad
To add to JLS's post about the Church transforming the West: the worst neighborhood in Imperial Rome, the ghetto abandoned to the prostitutes, where aborted babies routinely clogged the sewer pipes in sheer number, was called the vaticano. Then came the Light of the World Incarnate via Peter. Need I say more?
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Posted Saturday, July 24, 2010 10:35 AM By markrite
After reading this news post, one part of me reacts: "are you kidding me? How could this be among members of the One True Faith?" Then the other part of me who's lived in southern California for many years, and attended many Catholic parishes over these years, kicks in and reacts :" no real surprises there; I kind of expect that attitude from the (so-called) "faithful." Especially since the end of Vatican II, WHEN THE LIBERALIZATION OF LAWS RE ABORTION WAS PROMOTED BY REPUBLICANS & SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE PROTOTYPICAL REPUBLICAN HIMSELF, (JANUARY 1967) RONALD WILSON REAGAN, and the reaction from the Catholic Faithful was lmainly moral confusion. I've increasingly sensed that its really a NON-ISSUE among MOST Californians, Catholic or no. As Father Tom Eutenuer, head of HUMAN LIFE INTERNATIONAL has been saying,& for some time now, we are literally battling THE ABORTION DEMON, & nowhere is this more true than in the "Golden State". That's largely true because of PRO-ABORT CATHOLIC POLITICIANS LIKE PELOSI & SCHWARTZENNEGER WHOM THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS make an occasional SHOW of reproving, but largely just ignore. WHERE'S THE PUBLIC EXCOMMUNICATIONS THAT WE SO DESPARATELY NEED for these moral cretins? The Bishop of Phoenix, Az was ABSOLUTELY RIGHT to excomminicate those people there in his diocese when they participated in an abortion murder. Finally, there shouldn't be ANY surprised yelps of fear from any of us when the BIG EARTHQUAKE of 8 POINTS finally hits California; instead, we might think "what took God so long?"---GOD BLESS ALL, MARKRITE
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Posted Saturday, July 24, 2010 12:26 PM By TotaTua
if we want to see a change in the hearts of California Catholics, then we need to see our pastors speaking about life issues. Not in a condemning manner, but in one that invites people to be open to life and to pray for an end to abortion, either in front of the Blessed Sacrament, at home or in front of their local abortuary. Just saying …
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Posted Saturday, July 24, 2010 3:41 PM By Canisius
You can always count on PA to dignify the gay death style, I am sure he would cannonize all the gays he if could. markrite could not agree with you more, most of the bishops it seems are more concerned with status and lifestyle than being shepherds. Although Christ promised not abandoned his Church I really believe he letting go off on its own for a while to test it. Well we have for the most part failed him, from this I believe he will allow much of the Church to hollowed out until the time of His return. Tota Tua I have to disagree I think its far past time the laity confront these weak clerics.
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Posted Saturday, July 24, 2010 4:06 PM By L. Beck
JLS, This is the seamless thread through time that has represented the Catholic Church while it condemned it, and always looked the other way.The Catholic Church in Italy, still reeling from the clerical sex abuse scandal, lashed out Friday at gay priests who are leading a double life, urging them to come out of the closet and leave the priesthood.
The Diocese of Rome issued the strongly worded statement after the conservative Panorama newsweekly said in a cover story and accompanying video that it had interviewed three gay priests in Rome and accompanied them to gay clubs and bars and to sexual encounters with strangers, including one in a church building. One of the priests, a Frenchman identified only as Paul, celebrated Mass in the morning before driving the two escorts he had hired to attend a party the night before to the airport, Panorama said.
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Posted Saturday, July 24, 2010 4:33 PM By L. Beck
Whoever won at the great councils, there is no doubt that what we today call orthodoxy lost the Christian East. Not all the power of the Roman Empire, not all the persecutions and massacres, the burnings and beheadings, could dragoon the ancient churches into accepting the official theology that won at Chalcedon. When a rival religious power appeared on the scene, memories of persecution ensured that Eastern Christians had virtually no interest in defending the borders against an Islam that promised toleration -– and which initially held true to its word. The Catholic/Orthodox Christian church successfully defended its belief that Christ was both fully God and fully human – but at the cost of losing half the world.
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Posted Saturday, July 24, 2010 7:18 PM By JLS
L. Beck, you need to fine tune your analysis of what you read. Have you ever bothered to take a few history or literature or philosophy courses at the college level; that is the best way to lean how to understand what you read? My recommendation is to look over the ads and classifieds on this site and see what you can find to help you A. gain knowledge, and B. evaluate the knowledge you find.
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Posted Sunday, July 25, 2010 5:04 PM By markrite
Excuse me, Tota Tua, but what in the heck does "not in a condemning manner" mean when referring to the HEINOUS ACT of killing the preborn under the rubric of "choice," as sanctified under the laws of the great secular Leviathan (not sure if I spelled that right) known as California? Also in the same regard, what does "life issues" mean, I mean, REALLY mean? Reminds me of some of the pious sanctimonies of a lecter droning on about "intentions" after the gospel @ mass. Come on, the time has come for some REALLY TRANSPARENT language re the anti-life mess we're in re California AND the nation at large. CONDEMNATION OF THE ACT OF MURDER VIS-A-VIS LEGALIZED ABORTION SHOULD BE PROCLAIMED LOUDLY FROM EVERY PULPIT IN EVERY CATHOLIC CHURCH IN AMERICA, should become the NORM! We've been down this road before, and in fact are now, where we're too full of FEAR about the consequences of speaking out about this DREADFUL CRIME which is also a DREADFUL SIN. And how often, Totus, do you EVER hear about this DAILY CATASTROPHE being spoken of from the pulpit @ sunday mass? I know I don't, & the pastor at the church I attend is TRULY an orthodox priest, and ALWAYS promoting 24-7 adoration of the Holy Eucharist, etc. What are they all AFRAID of? That the collections will fall off because the "faithful" are sick of "always being hammered" about PRO-LIFE? Sorry, that would be a laugh. For, once again, the priests RARELY speak of the "life issue" (abomination) of abortion. Actually, some of his OWN YOUNG PARISHIONERS could've fallen into this evil, and wouldnt've if ONLY some priest @ Mass had FORCEFULLY devoted a WHOLE HOMILY to this too prevalent evil. (at one time in California & the nation, abortion was the MOST COMMON surgical procedure AFTER tonsillectomies)---I pray it's not true now. GOD BLESS EVERYONE--MARKRITE
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Posted Sunday, July 25, 2010 7:54 PM By L. Beck
One might consider the life of Mohandas K. Gandhi who was strongly influenced by the New Testament and who believed that the teachings of Jesus were key for his own understanding of Satyagraha (Truth-force). Gandhi, by his own admission, was far from perfect and surely did not entirely fulfill Jesus' commands, but he tried and was really quite successful in achieving a life of absolute poverty and nonviolence. His religious life was very personal and spiritual and hence he was able, to a large extent, to transcend the differences that exist among the world religions while keeping fervent faith in God. Like Tolstoy before him, Gandhi believed that the teachings of Jesus are clear and powerful and wondered why Christians did not take them seriously and try to follow them.
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Posted Sunday, July 25, 2010 9:28 PM By JLS
L. Beck, where do you pull your information from, the official propaganda reports?
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Posted Sunday, July 25, 2010 9:28 PM By Bridget
This is an outrage!!! This is why our society is falling to pieces. We treat a miracle, like a tumor poisoning our bodies. We take a beautiful gift from God and kill it. How is it we can do this to someone so small and innocent in every way?
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 7:16 AM By Canisius
TO L. Beck the last person we need to look at is someone like Ghandi. Ghandi DID NOT KNOW what he was talking about, he made absurd sweeping statement about Christians when there are entire communities lviing a faithful Christian life, check out Fransican Friars of the Renewal or many of the Contemplantive orders. I love it when non-believers try to tell us whats wrong with Church
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 8:27 AM By Abeca Christian
I agree Bridget, just by looking at the picture from this article touches my heart. The unborn child trying to suck it's fingers.
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 8:45 AM By Kevin
This is what happens when when parishes are more concerned with social justice than with God's Justice. Many people today do not seek salvation but entertainment and social networking by attending church. They want to feel better about themselves by showing how much they care. They are much more concerned for their own feelings than for the souls of others. Better a man starve to death and reach Heaven then feed his body but not his soul and cast him to Hell. Those who seek to convert souls to God are persecuted by the world and in many cases by their own parishes. The world demands that Holy Mother Church conform to it's will (just read the news) and their are many trying to make it happen even among those who attend mass every week. But in the end God and the Church will triumph but we need Priests and Bishops who will LEAD the flock and not follow the goats of the world and are more concerned about appearing to care for the poor of the world.
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 9:30 AM By JLS
The wishy washy "seamless garment" theory where the term "anti-abortion" is condemned so as not to hurt the delicate sensitivities of so many flowers in the pews caters to those whose spirituality is also known as head in the sand religion. It has no concern for saving babies from the lion's den.
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 3:49 PM By Abeca Christian
Today I was faced with a tough situation. Made me sad that our culture has made us feel guilty when we are doing the right thing. Women still married and going out having boyfriends, having their kids see that as OK and as the norm. I hate it when people who are subject to today's lifestyles, make us parents with morals seem like the bad guys for not allowing our kids to be part of that. May God give us the courage and strength to help us keep standing up for what is right, even if sometimes this society puts the guilt trip on us. We need the church to keep reminding us that we are doing the right thing.
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 4:39 PM By Tracy
Mark from PA. I personally was not surprised that this priest didn't think that abortion was a mortal sin. He says he once helped council post abortive women. Apparently he came to his beliefs because many women, especially teenagers are lied to and told that it isn't a baby but a "blob of tissue". Also, because of the stress of having an unwanted pregnancy, this to him would put them in the category of apparently not being able to make an informed decision. Either way in his mind this would preclude the sin from being "mortal" as to be "mortal" the person needed to know the gravity of their sin when they committed it. Also, in all fairness there are many women and teenagers who are forced or coerced into having abortions that they never wanted. Just stand outside an abortion clinic for a few hours and you will see this for yourself. (and these are only the ones you see) We have to start realizing that abortion kills an unborn baby as well as EXPLOITS AND HURTS WOMEN. Sad to say when priests are silent or complicit in abortion they are hurting the very women they think they are protecting. By the way. Praise God that you hear the pro-life message in your parish. However, I would ask how many Catholics do you know who vote for pro-aborts saying that there are other issues, like "helping the poor". How poor can you be when you are in the womb and totally dependent on your mother and those around her.
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 5:09 PM By Mark from PA
Tracy, so in other words, the priest doesn't believe that abortion is "always" a mortal sin. Well, in the case of women or girls forced against their will and lied to then this may be the case but the priest should preach against the evil of abortion and inform people about what abortion is and what it does.
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 8:33 PM By Catherine
Heretics. Pray for them.
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 10:04 PM By Anne T.
Do any of you realize how perfectly silly the word "gay" sounds to some of us when it is used as a noun for an adult? When I hear the word "gay", I think of children frolicking in a field of flowers having fun. When it is applied as a noun to an adult, it seems as if the person is a blathering idiot who never grew up. It sounds so perfectly silly when used as a noun for an adult. The terms homosexual orientated, practicing homosexual at least sounds as if the person is really an adult and has gone somewhat passed the teenage stage.
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Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 10:53 PM By JLS
In this priest's observations about life it looks as though he forgot to notice the doctrine of the Church. Thus I wonder who he's working for, because it sure is not the Church.
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Posted Tuesday, July 27, 2010 1:12 PM By Bruce
Sadly, this is just another example of what has happened in the Vatican II Church, many have departed having lost the Roman Catholic faith, or having never really learned it. It is even sadder when modern Vatican II clergy cowardly do not teach against and denounce the sin of abortion, or lead peaceful Rosary prayer groups. These clergy will be held accountable by our Creator on their Judgment Day for that which they did not do. Many of us here denounce this horrific choice, which for a Roman Catholic should never even consider a choice. We must be careful during our denouncements linking abortion to murder to not lose sight that we could impress on those whom have obtained an abortion(s) a feeling of hopelessness, that they will never get to Heaven and instead are hell bound. God is very merciful to those that confess their sins to a Roman Catholic priest, are truly sorry, perform their penance in reparation for this heinous sin, and amend their lives to do it know more. I don't know what sort of a penance a priest assigns to someone whom participated in an abortion; however considering its seriousness, some long-term act of charity might be assigned, like helping others never to commit this heinous act. I see Roman Catholics that seem to have given up hope, so the incentive of being morally good and holy is lost. Sadly, many have given up on God and may never experience the pleasures of Heaven because they didn't know how merciful our loving Father in Heaven can be. Pray the Rosary, especially the Joyful Mysteries to end the scourge of abortion in this country, which makes it the laughing stock of the world, not the beacon of hope.
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Posted Tuesday, July 27, 2010 3:20 PM By Rick DeLano
Bruce's post of 7/27 1:12pm above is an example of true Catholic charity.
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Posted Tuesday, July 27, 2010 3:54 PM By Mark from PA
Anne T, it is surprising to me how people that dislike gay people seem to be so annoyed by the term gay. Most people that respect gay people don't think that the word gay is silly. The term gay is not violent, abusive or demeaning. At what age do you think people should start referring to themselves as "practicing homosexuals"?
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Posted Tuesday, July 27, 2010 5:09 PM By JLS
Your definition of "like", PA, is unlike that of Jesus. "God so loved the world ... ", and yet He smote Sodom and Gomorrah to smithereens ... nothing left but a burned hole in the ground.
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Posted Tuesday, July 27, 2010 9:26 PM By L. Beck
The Bible is partly the construction of scholars (ancient or modern), and today the power to define the Bible still resides mostly with ecclesiastical authorities, as well as with academic biblical scholars. So, even if believers hold the Bible to be relevant, it is because clerics and scholars have not divulged how much of it is constructed by scholars.
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Posted Tuesday, July 27, 2010 10:19 PM By JLS
Holy Scripture is not an academic construct. The Church holds that both Old and New Testament are inspired and that there is no error. I have never seen anyone demonstrate any error in Scripture. But perhaps LBeck is capable of being the very first in all of history.
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Posted Wednesday, July 28, 2010 12:28 PM By Anne T.
Even though I think lesbian behavior is wrong, I will give lesbians credit that they do not use names such as "lollipops", "pinkies", "merries" or other such childish terms for themselves, at least not in public. They use a grown up adjective for adult women with homosexual orientation or practice. PA I find it amazing that a man as old as you are -- in your forties -- and some others as old as you are still using such an utterly childish term for adult men. I find Mark F. has the maturity to use adult terms for homosexuals, at least most of the time unless he is referring to such things as the LGBT Organization.
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Posted Wednesday, July 28, 2010 12:57 PM By Marlene
JLS, Please don't treat L.Beck so disrespectfully, he has a right to his opinion no matter how erroneous it is, and for those that he's misled, recall what our Lord said: "And whosoever shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me; it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and he were cast into the sea. Mark 9:41 Of course that applies just not to L.Beck but to all of us here, no matter how sarcastic we write. The only institution that can correctly and accurately interpret the Holy Bible is it's author, the Roman Catholic Church. (There are old books sold by TAN Books that Explain the Gospels and Epistles, see Amazon.) Yes the Old Testament is Jewish; however our Lord explained its passages and prophecies to the Apostles. As we know, the 4 Evangelists: John, Luke, Mark, and Matthew were all Catholics. Protestant seminaries and religious institutions of higher education haven't the ability to accurately interpret all the passages of the Holy Bible, in fact there are several books that they do not recognize and inturn are missing in theirs. This is why Catholics shouldn't be reading protestant sources of the Bible like the King James version and the many that have splintered from it generation after generation based upon other reformers interpretations. Stick with approved Roman Catholic Holy Bibles like Douay-Rheims, St Joseph, and etc. I prefer Douay-Rheims as it is the oldest english translation which to me means more accuracy regarding the authors original scripture readings/messages. Yes JLS I know you know all this, I am not speaking down to you, but to others whom haven't learned their Roman Catholic faith very well. Please pray your Rosaries that God will lead us to see His Truth and end abortion.
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Posted Wednesday, July 28, 2010 1:46 PM By Abeca Christian
Bruce speaking about Vatican II errors. I am saddened because in my opinion most or a lot of Catholics have become more lukewarm than ever. For instance you have youth leaders who hear that kids are on birth control pills because their parents have put them on it, then you have these (some) Vatican II youth group leaders say nothing, most don't take the opportunity to teach them what the church teaches out of love for their salvation and Catholic formation. Why join a youth group if the youth group is not taking the responsibility to teach these teens to live their faith, to know their faith and practice virtues. What a waste of time. How about knowing/ teaching homosexual teens what the church teaches about homosexuality, NO, but they sure are willing to allow the teen show off a picture of their same sex partner and brag about it to all the youth that attended that Catholic youth group function. Another moment to practice love and charity was missed just because their youth leaders just don't want to upset anyone. Where have we gone wrong??? Poor kids, they have no adults leading with love but only adults who just want to be friends by remaining silent, even though they were shocked that some parents permit such things. I tell them stop being shocked and say something with love. These kids need us! They need the truth! NOT our tap on the back and lets all hold hands and get along by remaining silent. We are no different when we remain silent about abortion, it is not different!
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Posted Wednesday, July 28, 2010 2:46 PM By JLS
Marlene, Jesus tells us that it is not what goes into a man that defiles him but what comes out; hence the Catholic Magisterial tradition of admonishing the sinners. L.Beck comes across as more desirous of being right than of finding what is right and true, which means modifying his view according to what the Church teaches; otherwise, he would have engaged my first challenge or someone else's. If he cannot handle a blog, then how would you expect him to handle an argument with the Pope?
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Posted Wednesday, July 28, 2010 4:36 PM By JLS
Marlene, it dawns on me that some people attempt to present views, who have no idea at all of the format for an argument or even what an argument does. Hopefully you know the basic thing which is the syllogism. Do you? If a = b, and b = c, therefore a = c. This is the conventional first lesson in logic. It is not logical to say "c" if "c" is not obvious. Thus, in this syllogism, "a" is obvious to everyone and "b" is obvious and their equality is obvious. But "c" is not obvious, and therefore, if you argue "c" without connecting it to anything that is obvious, then it is not logically demonstrated. There are religions that are based on illogical things, and countless adherents ... Catholicism can be demonstrated by real things, such as the historical witnesses to the Jesus event. When God handed down the Decalog to Moses, the following centuries consisted of the logic that demonstrated their truths. The Torah is aka the Law and the Prophets, where the latter tied together the Law with all that happened to the people in the course of their lives. If adultry is evil, and evil brings wrath, therefore adultry brings wrath. This is a prophetic statement using logic, which is exactly what the prophets spent their days doing. Later on a Catholic friar named St Thomas Aquinas taught it in a way which would be understood in the age of grace instead of the age of immediate cause and effect. Find out where to take up this skill and go from there.
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Posted Wednesday, July 28, 2010 6:16 PM By Mark from PA
Abeca Christian, well what should Catholic youth groups do if gay teens come to their functions? Should they tell them they aren't welcome or that they can only come alone? I don't think telling kids that they are disordered and unwelcome is saying something with love. Being kind to people and saying "lets all hold hands and get along" sounds pretty good to me.
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Posted Wednesday, July 28, 2010 6:26 PM By Mark from PA
Anne T, I have never heard any man refer to other men as lollipops or pinkies. I had an Aunt that we all called Pinky and I never heard anyone say anything against that. I never actually called her by her name. Perhaps some would say it was childish but to us it was affectionate. I must also say that until 4 years ago I never hear of the term SSA. I think I first saw this term when I saw it mentioned on the Courage site. Before that I never heard of it and even now I have only seen it in print, I still have never heard this term in a spoken conversation.
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Posted Wednesday, July 28, 2010 8:22 PM By JLS
PA, why would you prefer to hold hands and get along? Do you have any competitive impulses or proclivities?
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Posted Wednesday, July 28, 2010 8:37 PM By MarkF
Abeca, ignore PA's ruse of a question to you. Move on, just move on. Stop feeding him. It's all some complicated game in which none of us profit. It's a wheel of confusion and it never ends. We all should know this by now. Just stop. Cold turkey. Give him credit for perseverance but still just walk away. Please.
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Posted Wednesday, July 28, 2010 8:46 PM By Anne T.
Mark PA, perhaps I was not clear. I never meant homosexual men call each other Pinky. I was just comparing the word "gay" to the word "lesbian", the latter being far more adult like than the former. The three other words were examples of childish words that lesbians could use if they were more immature. Cutsy nicknames are something else entirely different and are usually given to adults by children or husband to wife and sometimes relatives to very close relatives. They are not often used in the work or public environment. Now I am going to follow Mark F's advice and end this discussion.
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Posted Thursday, July 29, 2010 1:17 PM By Bruce
Abeca, It truly is sad isn't it, the downward spiral we are in. The answer is simple, Satan is in control of this cruel materialistic world and he has seeped in, even into the highest governing offices of this world. Today most people would rather offend God than offend one another. Especially in these times, we are put here to demonstrate our love and faithfulness to God as we are surrounded by corruption in nearly all walks of life. Some of the saints like St. Theresa would have preferred to live in these times of greater temptation, as there are even greater riches in Heaven for those whom are faithful to God and resist the temptations. We need to walk God's straight and narrow path, never venturing off. We need to try and convert others to follow. That conversion is primarily through prayer as only the Holy Ghost has the ability to soften hardened hearts and bitter hate, especially to Christ. So many souls are doomed if we don't get down on our prayer bones and recite the Rosary devotedly, humbly, contritely, and fervently to save their souls and for God to show us His Way. We need to forgo our own way and adopt His Way as our own, only then will we be happy and free. It is best to make our time available to say all three Mysteries, sacrificing our inner worldly desires, to save souls. In God is love, hope, and charity; without Him is nothing but darkness. Many great graces come from saying the Mysterys of the Holy Rosary. St Alphonsus Ligouri said "Our Lord has promised spiritual graces to all who ask them." The Rosary truly does change hearts and souls for the better, and for many may be their only refuge. We need the 7 Holy Sacraments as they provide us with the greatest graces from God, the Eucharist. Pray for Holy Mother the Church and that God will bless us with saintly Bishops, Priests, and Nuns. May God abundantly bless all whom read this.
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Posted Thursday, July 29, 2010 3:39 PM By Mark from PA
JLS, no I am not really competitive at all. My older brother played Little League, Babe Ruth, High School and University baseball but I wasn't into sports at all. I think I had something of a tendency to make myself invisible when I was in school. I was nice to everyone and never had a bad word to say about anyone so I was never picked on or bullied in high school. Since I was shy, a lot of the kids probably just didn't pay a lot of attention to me. I do remember being strong in my pro-life views and speaking out on this so if I felt something was unjust I wasn't always silent. I have to say that I enjoy talking to you JLS because you are a strong person and it is a challenge to keep up with you.
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Posted Thursday, July 29, 2010 8:37 PM By JLS
PA, perhaps I am strong in some ways, but not in many ways. One day an old missionary priest laid on me St Benedict's "Ora et Labora" and translated it this way, that we are to pray as if it all depends on God and work as if it all depends on us. All we have to do is say "yes", and God will supply what we need according to His Will. One day after several years of futility in trying to escape my self destructive ways and always failing, I dropped to my knees and somehow the words to the Our Father came out of my lips. I do not recall ever having said that prayer from memory, and I think the only time I had ever been on my knees was once in a Lutheran church as a kid with my Mom. What moved me to do this then? After that, there were unusual events that began. Gradually I was able to find some focus on what was happening, and sought out Jesus ... and found Him among some great people most of whom had fled the same sort of follies in life as I had. But I was continually given further insight into Scripture which moved me to keep searching until it was in perfect focus. That culminated in the Catholic Church. Why? From what I have learned, I believe it is because of faith bridled with desparation. PA, how much strength does it take to "remove a mountain and toss it into the sea"? It takes faith and faith begins as the size of a mustard seed, one of the tiniest seeds of all the plant kingdom. Blessed Mary Ever Virgin was one of the tiniest of women; and recently the late Bl Teresa of Calcutta was certainly a tiny woman. But what strength they exerted!
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Posted Thursday, July 29, 2010 8:57 PM By Abeca Christian
Bruce you are right. I agree with everything you posted. God bless you.
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Posted Friday, July 30, 2010 2:36 PM By Mark from PA
One thing though, JLS, when I was a young person I always wanted to protect my goodness. I never tried drugs or drank to excess. I was afraid of doing something stupid if I did so I stayed away from those things and they were never really a temptation to me anyway. I find it sad when people have to drink or use drugs to give themselves courage to do things that they shouldn't do in the first place. That is good that you sought out and found Jesus. Thank you for sharing your story.
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Posted Friday, July 30, 2010 4:46 PM By JLS
The good news, PA, is that Jesus redeems.
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Posted Thursday, August 12, 2010 9:01 AM By David
In every church, inside every denomination, is a group of people who need to move from nominalism to living, bona fide faith. These numbers aren't a shock, but they do point to the fact that one of the biggest problems the Church faces is in taking spiritual babies, and maturing them into militant Christians.
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