Bishops and their Wrong Emphasis [LINK]

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/10/christopher-manion/importing-criminals/

OH BOOM, A QUESTION ABOUT FAITH #vpdebate

Kaine absolutely LIES throughout this entire question!

Moderator asks Kaine how faith has influenced his politics.

Death Penalty
First of all, Kaine makes a HUGE mistake saying Catholicism is opposed to the death penalty, so he was as well as governor. First of all, the Church isn't opposed to the death penalty. That's a prudential judgment people must come to, including politicians.

But why doesn't Kaine use this same philosophy when answering about other things. He says he cannot impose his beliefs on others, because of the first amendment of something.

BOOM
Mike Pence pushes back hard and really holds Kaine's lying feet to the fire and saying basically listen, I'm opposed to killing nearly-born babies, but you're not for some reason. Aren't you a complete hypocrite??

Response by Kaine:
Kaine comes back and ONCE AGAIN contradicts himself by saying he can't push his beliefs on others. Um, what are you even doing as a public service? You didn't mind imposing your beliefs about the death penalty. What a philosophical lightweight. He just does and says whatever it takes to get ahead. I'm actually a little surprised by what Pence said when he said he appreciates Kaine's faith. What faith?

Like I said, Kaine looks out for himself only. If he needs to accept abortion and legalize it to succeed, you can rest assured he will. Kaine, don't give me this stuff about living out your faith every day.

VP Tim Kaine Turns his Back on Catholicism

Tim Kaine who is currently debating Mike Pence is supposedly Catholic, but in reality he stands in public opposition to it. He is hugely in favor of gay marriage, equating it with real marriage between a man and a woman. He openly admits this puts him at odds with Catholic teaching, but he doesn't even care. He even says this is his personal belief.

Furthermore, he is a big time proponent of abortion. He believes it should be not only legal, but paid for by taxpayers, many of whom oppose it. He thinks it should be available in every community, at any time, for free.

Obviously he's thrown out his allegiance to his faith in favour of political positions. Now he's the potential vice president. Does he think his sacrifice of his very own faith was a good calculation? I mean really this is just a job, and he is sacrificing his faith for it.

On the other hand, the Trump Pence ticket believe abortion is wrong and are seeking ways to reduce it - the opposite of this so-called Catholic. Kaine is so concerned about nuclear proliferation, but is apparently unconcerned about abortion proliferation.

Well, basic bottom line is Kaine has openly rejected his faith.

P.S. While writing this, Fr. Zuhlsdorf from the famous blog just made a great point. From his Catholic formation which he seems to have forgotten, Tim Kaine shoudl realize for something to be good overall, it must have good means and ends. If Clinton got donations from evil empires, it doesn't matter if she does good with it.

October 4: Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi

Happy Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi which we celebrate today. St. Francis loved God's creation just like every Christian ought to. It is, after all, God's Creation. But some people push this too far. Animals are not sacred, they're not holy. They're animals. Some churches have turned today into a travesty by bringing in every dog, cat, bird, and horse into churches all over the world to be "blessed" by a priest.

This is not okay and does not make sense. I know a lot of people will be indignant. "My animal is so amazing, he is so loving! and St. Francis loved animals! Who are you to tell me not to get a blessing for my beloved pet!"

Well, first of all, pets are animals. They do not have a conscience and cannot choose between good or evil, therefore none are morally praiseworthy. They might be companions and helpful and so on, but they are not rational actors. They are animals, and therefore do not have a rational soul. Blessing an animal is no different than blessing any other random thing in your house.

People like to think animals are human and in many cases they believe animals are better than humans, but animals act upon instinct. They do not make moral choices, only our personification of animals tells us they do.

So stop walking in these dirty animals, traipsing in mud and dirt and everything else into a sacred and holy place such as a church. Here, the Eucharist is consecrated, it's not a barn. Animals cannot pray, they cannot worship. And people who attend these blessing of animal events aren't there to pray either. They're there to make their animals more than they really are.

Fortunately at my church, even though they do this, it's done outside the church. So at least these animals aren't allowed into the actual church.

Jesus doesn't show the way - He IS the way.

I came to a profound realization the other day as I was watching a movie about Jesus. It was just a clip where Jesus is summoned because Lazarus has died. Lazarus's two sisters - Mary and Martha - are there along with a huge crowd. Then the following dialogue takes place:

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. [But] even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” 

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life”

He does not say he shows us the resurrection or teaches how to attain it. No, he IS the resurrection. He continues by saying "Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She affirms that she does.

Jesus is the only person to ever claim to BE and not just SHOW the path or the way. There are many more examples throughout the scriptures:

2) I am the Bread of Life
3) I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life
4) I am the vine, you are the branches
5) I am
6) I am the Light of the World
7) I am the Gate
8) I am the Good Shepherd

The point is Jesus isn't saying "I will bring you to the way, the truth, and the life" or "I am your guide" or "follow me". Although he does say to follow him, the ultimate destination is him. Jesus is God and it is through him, through the eating of his flesh and drinking of his blood that we rise to new life like Lazarus did. Jesus lived a perfect and holy life and he tells us he is the way. We have no choice but to follow him.

Holy Couple Goes from Celibate to Spectacularly Fruitful

I was just reading about the parents of St. Terese of Lisieux, since today October 1, is her feast day. They were extraordinary people. First her father, Louis Martin, wanted to become a priest, but was refused since he didn't know Latin. Her future mother wanted to join a convent but was likewise rejected. This was back in a time when people could be rejected because there were tons of vocations to the religious life.

So her mother, Marie-Azélie Guérin, known as Zélie, became a lace-maker, something she excelled at and opened her own business at the age of 22.

Louis and Zélie met in 1858 and married in July of that same year. At this is the amazing thing. At first, they decided to live celibately in order to devote themselves to God. However, after speaking with a priest, he discouraged them from doing this. Did they at this point end up having one or two children. Nope! They had 8. Unfortunately 3 of the children died early, but 5 daughters survived.

Here's the next amazing part: All 5 daughters became nuns! You can just imagine the level of piety and holiness in that family.

Sadly, Terese, the youngest, died at the age of just 24 years old of tuberculosis on September 30, 1897. She was canonized just 27 years later on May 17, 1925 by Pope Pius XI. Her parents were canonized as well, an extremely rare occurrence, some 90 years later, on October 18, 2015.

Clearly this family wanted to do everything possible to glorify God. What an amazing story.

Feast Day of St. Teresa of Lisieux

Today October 1st 2016 is the feast day of Saint Teresa of Lisieux. She is known as the Little Flower of Jesus and is one of 3 female doctors of the Catholic Church. One of 33 doctors of the church overall. She died at the very young age of 24 after being a nun for 9 years joining at the age of 15 with her two Elder sisters in a Carmelite order of nuns.

The church I grew up in, was baptized and confirmed in, and essentially raised in and where I will be married in is named after her. It's called St. Theresa's Church and it's located in St John's Newfoundland. Let's all say a special prayer to Saint Teresa today.

Happy feast day of St. Jerome

St Jerome is a very important Saint in Catholic Church History. He was one of the four original doctors of the church and he translated the Bible which is in Hebrew and Greek into Latin and he was responsible for the Latin Vulgate Bible. Today is his feast day.

September 29, 2016: Feast Day of Archangel St. Raphael

St. Raphael is one of the 3 angels mentioned by name in the Bible. His name means "God Heals". Tons more information available here.

Should Catholics Vote for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump?

So there's a big election coming up in the US. Two people, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Many people are wondering who to vote for. Well, the obvious answer is Trump.

Abortion

Let's get right to it. Abortion is a big thing. Trump thinks it's bad and should be illegal, Hillary think it's great and should be cheaper or free and accessible to everyone. Clearly this puts Trump on a morally superior ground. Legalizing abortion and making it free will obviously encourage it much more than making it illegal.

Now, Trump made a few statements about jailing women who had abortions and people got all up in arms. But he is humble enough o have since hired Fr. Frank Pavone, an extremely well loved pro-life priest who is best buds with Martin Luther King Jr's niece Alveda King. He is the #1 Catholic Pro-Life person in America. And Trump said he will consult with him and other Catholics to determine the best way to achieve a pro-life country.

If for no other reason, this is one good one to choose Trump of Hillary.

War

It seems to me that, not based on emotion, but on fact, that Trump is less bellicose than Hillary. She'll go to war over anything to teach the other side a lesson. She'll meddle in other country's business just to look good. Trump will mostly avoid going to war and if it's absolutely required, he'll not only go to war, he will go ALL OUT and absolutely destroy the opposition and make sure it lasts.

Overall I think war is terrible, but looking at history and statements made in the past, Trump seems less likely to go to war than Hillary. He's also less likely to create a vacuum which creates ISIS like Hillary did.

Freedom of Religion

Clearly Trump is much stronger on freedom of religion than Hillary. She like Obama is in favor of forcing religions to do things that they want them to do. They do not really believe in freedom of religion or allowing people to do an act as they see fit according to their religion. Trump is far more likely to respect people's freedom of religion and has said so on multiple occasions.

Conclusion

When it came up for voting acts such as the religious freedom restoration act were strongly voted against by people like Hillary Clinton. They would rather Force religions to do their will and to violate their deepest morals than to allow freedom of religion. But Donald Trump understands that the United States was not founded on religious intolerance but in fact was founded on the ability of each person to decide their own religion and to act accordingly.

I think for these reasons and perhaps many more Donald Trump is by far a much much better candidate than Hillary Clinton can ever be for anybody who cares about moral issues and freedom of religion. Is Donald Trump absolutely perfect in every way? Obviously not! There are many areas that you can disagree with him on. But when you look at these most crucial issues nobody can honestly say that Hillary Clinton would be better in those areas.