“Render to Ceasar the things of Ceaser and the things of God to God". Luke 20:35
Who knew? Our own Jesus Christ was the first person to propose the separation of Church and State. However that does not stop the Catholic Bishops, led by our own Cardinal George, from trying to influence state affairs through the votes of their parishioners. "It is important to be clear that the political choices faced by citizens have an impact on general peace and prosperity and also the individual's salvation," the bishops said in the document, titled "Faithful Citizenship." "Similarly, the kinds of laws and policies supported by public officials affect their spiritual well-being."
Any other organization that would lobby voters so directly would lose their tax exempt status.
What is wrong with our politicians that allow the Church to openly lobby from the pulpit, one on one, and as an organization—yet allow them to remain a nonprofit organization? Personally with our growing budget deficits I would welcome the Catholic Church to take their gloves off and go all out. Just having them pay property taxes would balance our city budget in Chicago.
"Let him who is without sin cast the first stone" .. John 8:7 I would suggest to Cardinal George and all the bishops that before they pass judgment on their flock, they reflect on their own sins of omission. The Rev. Donald McGuire’s molesting children (right here in Chicago under Cardinal George’s jurisdiction) is the latest in a series of cover ups where priests are doing severe harm to our children. The dioceses of San Diego, Davenport, Tucson, Portland and Spokane are all either bankrupt or in the process of filing for bankruptcy protection to protect themselves from lawsuits regarding this matter.
Perhaps the bishops should spend some time discussing their religious problems and leave the matters of the state to the politicians.
www.carlostmock.com
Travel website: The Pink Agenda. Several Blogs. Weekly newsletter, available upon request. Publications - Fiction: Borrowing Time: A Latino Sexual Odyssey - Floricanto Press 2003. Poetry: The Refined Savage Poetry Review - Refined Savage Editions; Unfinished Works - AIDS Services Foundation – Orange County December 2005; Fingernails Across the Chalkboard Gwendolyn Brooks Center December 2006
Non-Fiction: "Queer History viewed through the eyes of Literature and my favorite books as I live my Latino Odyssey" Universidad Pedagógica Nacional. May, 2006. Unfinished Works Published by AIDS Services Foundation "HIV From the Puerto Rican Perspective"– Orange County December 2005. Watch for his forthcoming book - "Mosaic Virus"
let us not forget the current pope was a member of a certain German party during world war 2 and replaced many of the bishops in the united states with bishops who reflect his political views.The fundamentalist churches for a longtime now have openly equated Christ with the Republic an party.If these churches want to be political entities in defiance of our American constitution and Gods teachings then they deserve to be taxed. Besides most of these so called churc hes act as business entities anyway seeing how much wealth they can accumulate
by
liberalsrock (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 128 comments)
on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 8:11:18 AM
Is PNAC a non-profit organization? I believe it is tax-exempt as well.
This RETARDED attack on the bull pulpit annoys the hell out of me. Why? because it is a shameless, SHAMELESS! attack on free speach made on the stupid assertion that the STATE can influence the CHURCH, but not the other way around. I am a not even very religious, but all you have to do is read a little history to see that the "seperation of church and state" was meant to mean "seperation of state FROM church" NOT the other way around. A tool designed to keep the state out of churches, not churchgoers out of politics.
We took prayer out of school and replaced it with sex ed, then we took the ten commandments out of public buildings, and now we want to regulate churches for what they SAY? Come on people, get a bloody grip!
by
the religious minority (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 2 comments)
on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 at 7:56:21 AM
What i mean by not very religious, is the fact that I do not go to any organized church. Personally, I am a live- and let live kinda guy. I will not preach, but I still hate using taxes to control it.
by
the religious minority (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 2 comments)
on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 at 8:08:27 AM
In 2004, the American Catholic heirarchy distinguished itself with suggestions and threats that those who voted for the pro-choice, Catholic candidate for president (John Kerry) should be excommunicated. In view of the fact that they were being exposed at the time as people who had been, and were still harboring felons; I decided to save them the trouble of enforcing their threat by removing myself from their church.
In spite of having been more or less apostate for some time, I had never examined my conscience to determine what I really did believe. This break afforded me that opportunity, and I determined that Deism came closest to what I truly believe. I'm not recommending it to anyone, it just seemed right for me.
For this election season, the Catholic church is easing up on its strident opposition to pro-choice candidates saying that members can conscientiously vote for a pro-choice candidate if there are other factors in the candidate's positions that outweigh their pro-choice position.
Aren't you glad that they are coming around? Don't be. Their enlightenment is simply a reason to excuse the faithful from withholding their votes from Rudy Giuliani.
With their backing of Rudy, the Catholic hierarchy can claim an unbroken record of throwing their support behind the most authoritarian regimes. When the record goes back to the Roman Emperor Constantine, you can understand their desire to preserve it.
by
John Sanchez Jr. (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 13 diaries, 1301 comments)
on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 at 8:50:51 AM
4 comments
How would you rate this?
You must be logged in (if signed up) to do ratings.
It's free to signup! And easy. And takes just a minute or two....
Must Read (
Well Said (
News (
Touching (
Funny (
Supported (
Interesting (
Inspiring (
Valuable (
