Anthony Stevens-Arroyo, the "Catholic America" blogger for the Newsweek-Washington Post "On Faith" blog, lauded the "most Catholic" section of the Ted Kennedy funeral Mass: the grandkids asking for nationalized health care.
The overt political statements came from the mouths of children who paraded before the microphones at the Prayer of the Faithful. Each petition was worded with quotes from a Kennedy speech. The most political asked us to pray that health care be recognized as a "right, not a privilege." Yet that petition was also the most Catholic, echoing passionate statements from popes and bishops to "take back our government" and make it an instrument of Catholic obligations to make God's Kingdom come. (Emphasis his.)
I don't know which pope or bishop the man is quoting here. But this is not the silliest blog post he’s written on liberalism and Catholicism being nearly synonymous. Check out this recent one: Is It A Sin to Listen to Rush? This was his answer:
So, it is not a sin to listen to Rush: it is only sinful to be a "dittohead" and believe in lies or contribute to the climate of hate by repeating his provocative commentary. The same applies to all others of whatever political side who feed the monster of personal destruction. I thank God that in Catholic America there are a growing number of us who tune out hate speech.
Socialism is the most Catholic, so it naturally follows in this man's logic that opposing medical socialism on radio is the propagation of "lies" and "hate." But Limbaugh is also charged as a racist:
The moral issue about Limbaugh regards his "-isms": racism and sexism, as well as homophobia and prevarication. That Rush has made racist remarks is a matter of fact: he was fired from ESPN for his racist put-down of Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb -- and this has scarcely been his only infraction of the Catholic moral principle to love all of God's creatures. Certainly, his political take on issues may be defended as legitimate opinion; but it is indefensible to base opinion upon untruths or wrap them up with any of the sinful "-isms."
There can be no doubt that Limbaugh engages in ridicule of persons and principles he dislikes and in exaggeration of what he likes. The ridicule often includes crude sexual and racial references. Excusing such as "entertainment" or dismissing him as a "clown" merely postpones necessary scrutiny over his destructive behavior. While Limbaugh will have to deal with his own conscience if he says or does such things maliciously with the intention of using racism or lying to destroy reputations, believing and repeating such things challenges the morality of his listeners.
There are few weaker liberal arguments than suggesting Limbaugh was racist to proclaim on ESPN that "The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well.There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve. The defense carried this team."
You can argue about whether McNabb drew more credit than the defense (which was also largely black, so the racism charge suffers). But you can't argue that the media didn't promote black quarterbacks. (See Brent Bozell.) You certainly shouldn't argue that such a controversy makes you a sinner for listening to Limbaugh's radio show.
PS: Daily Kos blogger Sherman DeBrosse echoes ASA: "The passing of Edward Kennedy underscored the fact that this great man was inspired by values that seemed no longer paramount to his church or to most other American Christians. If you doubt this, try to count the times lately you have heard churchmen insist that universal health care must be the birthright of every person."
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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Even if Rush is full of
September 3, 2009 - 13:42 ET by Radical1979Even if Rush is full of isms, racism, sexism, etc., abortion is a sin. A mortal sin at that. I can't stand these guys defining the Catholic religion and the heirarchy of sins leaving out the murder of unborn babies.
This man loses all credibility
September 3, 2009 - 14:17 ET by motherbeltThis man loses all credibility when he claims that any Pope or Bishop ever exhorted Catholics to "take back our government" and make it an instrument of Catholic obligations to make God's Kingdom come.
Can't you just imagine the uproar and the outrage if such a thing ever happened?
He must have been thinking about Candidate Obama, who asked people to elect him so that they could "create a kingdom right here on earth."
That would be OK.
Whatever happened to, "Thou shalt not steal?"...
September 3, 2009 - 14:12 ET by R D Helm...'cause that is all socialism is.
Stealing.
-Dave
Even when the government tries to kiss you, it is just a prelude to a good screwing. -Neal Boortz
So, praying for a program ...
September 3, 2009 - 14:21 ET by SentryDanSo, praying for a program, which if enacted could possibly hasten the deaths of millions of people is a Christian thing to do? It is NOT what I would consider a Christian thing to do. These people have apparently forgotten what prayer is all about.
I seriously doubt that the Kennedy child that said that part of the prayers of petition knew what they were actually saying. In other words, the child was put up to it. Seems like the liberals are always trying to make politicial hay out of anything, even something as solemn as a funeral. May God have mercy on those slugs.
Remember folks, Freedom isn't Free. It was bought with the blood and sacrifice of the men and women who are serving and who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know.
Also remember folks, that the way to SUPPORT THE TROOPS is to support their mission. Anyone who says that they support the troops but don't support their mission is lying about supporting the troops. And if you want to know, yes I do have a dog in the fight, he is a United States Marine.
Perhaps he is defining
September 3, 2009 - 14:19 ET by OhmingPerhaps he is defining Catholicism based on the actions / words of self prclaimed Catholic politicians. With the amount of un-churched and ignorance in our society regarding true Catholic doctrine, this guy could say whatever he wants and he will be taken as an authority by most readers unfortunately.
After all, Nancy Pelosi
September 3, 2009 - 14:28 ET by HockeyKidAfter all, Nancy Pelosi claims to be "an ardent, practicing Catholic" while defending the "right to choose" to kill the innocents. I think you're on to something here.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Now, I'm not a Catholic,
September 3, 2009 - 14:26 ET by HockeyKidNow, I'm not a Catholic, but I have a passing familiarity with the catechism, and as I understand it, this fraud is about as far from orthodox Catholic doctrine as you can get. Does he think real Catholics won't notice his shuck-n-jive?
Nor does he listen to Rush. I've listened to Rush for 16 years now, and I've never heard him make a racist or sexist remark. Yes, he points out the hypocrisy of the race baiters like Sharpton, Jackson, Farrakhan and Wright; he also refers to some female newsreaders as "infobabes" and points out the hypocrisy of organizations like NOW. To interpret these as racism and sexism, and to go on to set them as the two pillars of Rush's philosophy, is more than misleading, it's downright lying. So much for Catholic behavior.
On another point, the guy's photo creeps me out. He looks like the stereotypical used car salesman who will happily lie all day long, smiling all the while, if you'll only "drive it off the lot today". I can just hear his laugh: Byahorkhorkhorkhawww!!
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Catholic teaching on socialism
September 3, 2009 - 14:27 ET by Matthew BalanStevens-Arroyo is trying to equate Catholicism with socialism. That couldn't be further from the truth:
From Pius XI's Quadragesimo Anno:
"Religious socialism, Christian socialism, are contradictory terms; no one can be at the same time a good Catholic and a true socialist."
He is also not conversant
September 3, 2009 - 15:02 ET by motherbeltHe is also not conversant with other aspects of the Catholic Church.
He says, regarding the fact that Kennedy was allowed a funeral Mass:
Besides, if Kennedy had not been reconciled in the months of his fatal illness, neither his pastor nor his Archbishop nor his pope would have graced the ceremony as they did.
NO ONE knows whether he was reconciled in all things except his confessor, and he is forbidden to say anything about it, even to the Archbishop. The Pope did not "grace" the ceremony; he responded to Sen. Kennedy's letter wishing him God's comfort. The Church gives the person the benefit of the doubt and assumes contrition and reconciliation. No one has any way of knowing whether he recanted his support for abortion.
And no priest or bishop would assume that he had not, and refuse a Mass.
Added: Here is the statement by Sean Cardinal O'Malley, of Boston, on the why of Kennedy's Catholic funeral Mass (reproduced at The Deacon's Bench, the Cardina's blog page is not working right now)
Don't Pigeon Hole Catholic Church
September 3, 2009 - 14:40 ET by ChuchulainnI go to Mass every week, mostly Sundays or sometimes the Vigil Mass on Saturday depending on my schedule. I pray 5 decades of the Rosary every night, go to Reconciliation every few months, and, of course, am pro-life. I think it is fair to say that I am more than a "Cafeteria Catholic."
In my opinion most Bishops, Priests, and Sisters would be in favor of
some form of nationalized health care due to the Bible passages from
Matthew 25:31-46.
Having said that, I am certain that most Bishops, Priests, and Sisters did not vote for Obama due to his pro-choice stance. They would say he is part of "The Culture of Death."
Like most people in general, the Catholic Church is neither all Liberal nor all Conservative, it just depends on the issue.
no Catholic condemnation of Teddy
September 3, 2009 - 15:18 ET by RayRayif the Pope or Cardinal O'Malley had condemned Teddy as a lifelong abortion lover, I'd rejoin the church.
I don't mean to antagonize you, but I'd assume that the majority did vote for Obama. Question: Obama is one of the most radical abortion lovers in history, worse even than Teddy. Does Obama's picture hang now in classrooms in Catholic schools?
Who could be surprised that
September 3, 2009 - 16:27 ET by celatorWho could be surprised that WAPO would have a "Catholic" blogger who doesn't understand even the basic principles of Catholic social teaching?
Arroyo confuses charity with socialism. The church condemns socialism and has done so for over a hundred years.. Period. What really, really ticks me off is that when non Catholics read what Arroyo wrote, they will think this is what Catholics believe and teach. Drives me crazy.
Here is one of hundreds of articles on the issue, in addition to many, many encyclicals on the the matter.
http://www.freerepub...
He might try reading Pope Benedict's latest encyclical on the relationship between citizens and goverments (covers other issues as well)--Caritas et Veritate
http://www.vatican.v...
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
they are clever, though
September 3, 2009 - 17:53 ET by RayRaythey figured the Pope might very well not praise Teddy after Teddy's death. So nonths in advance, Teddy writes a letter to the Pope, expecting the usual form letter reply. Then they trot out the form letter at Teddy's funeral, and later through their minions in the establishment press make the claim that the Pope thought well of Teddy.
The Pope got snookered by them.
Ray Ray... You are exactly
September 3, 2009 - 18:23 ET by celatorRay Ray...
You are exactly right. Kennedy received a form letter produced by a Vatican bureaucrat in response to his letter to the Pope. He got what everyone else receives when they write a letter to the Pope, i.e. "thank you for your letter, I will keep you in my prayers, etc." Raymond Arroyo made this clear on Ingraham's show this morning.
To present this letter as a personal, thoughtful letter from the Pope to Teddy is an outrageous lie. That the good Cardinal would misrepresent the letter in this way is more than troubling. I can assure you Cardinal Cushing would not have done so.
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
Pope Leo XIII called Socialism a DEADLY PLAGUE
September 3, 2009 - 18:41 ET by ekslibAnd said that socialists were part of a wicked conspiracy
[to] overthrow of all civil society.
http://www.ewtn.com/...
Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII promulgated on 28 December 1878.
government sanctioned theft
September 3, 2009 - 19:11 ET by katainkentnot a churchgoer myself, but I am relatively sure this falls under one of the ten commandments. Possibly two.
___________________________________________
We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. ~Thomas Jefferson
Kata.. Maybe.... #1 Don't
September 3, 2009 - 19:27 ET by celatorKata..
Maybe....
#1 Don't worship false gods (Obama)
#7 Don't steal other people's stuff
#10 Don't be jealous of what other people have--fame, money, property, popularity, etc.
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
oh I missed one
September 3, 2009 - 19:35 ET by katainkentI've noticed that government is fast becoming a father/god figure again. Churches were the helpers of yesterday. Free willing, they cared for the sick and helped the poor. Somehow they became the bad guys because of it? So of course there is this gap that needs to be filled. The government steps in and demands the same thing of its citizens and now its the right thing to do? Only in bizarro world should this fly. And yet here we are.
___________________________________________
We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. ~Thomas Jefferson
It's true. You make a
September 3, 2009 - 19:52 ET by celatorIt's true. You make a thoughtful point.
Church organizations created the original hospitals, universities, orphanages, mental institutions etc. It was social justice as it should be--from the Gospel and from the heart and from the need to improve society's institutions so that the sick, the lame, the disadvantaged could be protected.
I think the general attack of governments on churches is rooted in a sort of critical parent model--i.e. you aren't doing it right, we are wiser, smarter, less corrupt and all that. Plus, they like the power that comes from "running stuff".
The history of governments is really the history of tyranny. Governments suppress and control, and try to eliminate dissent.
There is one wonderful, though not perfect, exception: The United States. The Constitution turned all that tyranny upside down. The first four amendments were written specifically to protect us from government tyranny. Amazing. Never been done, constitutionally, before. (There might be one exception with the state of Connecticut which had an earlier constitution).
That's why Obama hates the Constitution, I reckon. Gets in the way of the revolution.
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
celator it's not just the
September 3, 2009 - 20:21 ET by Radical1979celator it's not just the Constitution gettin' in the way of the revolution any more, it's the middle class working people who are paying for all the $%it Obama and the liberals want to do.
Can't wait for 9/12
Only liberals could be so silly
September 3, 2009 - 20:12 ET by ekslibWhen dealing with abortion, Catholic Liberals insist on keeping their Catholic faith and their politics separate.
When dealing with socialist programs, Catholic Liberals insist on connecting their Catholic faith and their politics.
Once again, I'd like to ask...why were so few blacks at Ted's funeral Mass?
Ted MUST have had loads of black relatives and close friends.
Well...
September 4, 2009 - 07:54 ET by stage9...there's Christianity - the belief that Jesus Christ was the sinless Son of God who was supernaturally born of Mary, and died to save mankind from sin, rose supernaturally on the third day and is seated at the right hand of God - and then there's "christianity" according to liberals - the belief that Jesus was NOT God's son but he was just a kind man who was more of a "community organizer".
"If God is dead, somebody is going to have to take his place. It will
be megalomania or erotomania, the drive for power or the drive for
pleasure, the clenched fist or the phallus, Hitler or Hugh Hefner."
— Malcolm Muggeridge