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Category: Religion

THE IRS SHOULD REVOKE THE TAX EXEMPT STATUS OF BISHOP THOMAS PAPROCKI’S DIOCESE

THE IRS SHOULD REVOKE THE TAX EXEMPT STATUS OF BISHOP THOMAS PAPROCKI’S DIOCESE

On June 5, after the legislature passed new abortion laws, Catholic Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the diocese of Springfield Illinois issued a "decree" ordering that Illinois legislative members who promoted or voted for the law were not allowed to receive communion at church and should not try to receive it. Not only that, his decree even identifies by name two specific people: the House Speaker and the Senate president. He alleges they:  “Have obstinately persisted in promoting the abominable crime…

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“TWO MEN WENT UP TO THE TEMPLE TO PRAY” – THE BURDEN OF SELF RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTAL PEOPLE

“TWO MEN WENT UP TO THE TEMPLE TO PRAY” – THE BURDEN OF SELF RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTAL PEOPLE

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell…

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RELIGION AND POLITICS – A DISASTROUS MIX

RELIGION AND POLITICS – A DISASTROUS MIX

In a recent edition of a national Catholic publication, The National Catholic Register, a Catholic monsignor, Father Charles Pope, wrote a column he entitled “Abortion Supporters Must Face penalties.” In it, he insisted Catholic's and especially Catholic politicians, who support laws in conflict with Catholic catechism should be punished by the Church. Specifically, he advocated sanctions against Catholic politicians who fail to support the Catholic position on abortion including forbidding  communion and even issuing formal ex-communication against them. From his…

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REFLECTIONS AFTER A DEVASTATING WEEK OF EVENTS

REFLECTIONS AFTER A DEVASTATING WEEK OF EVENTS

I was so disturbed by the unjudicial demeanor and conduct of judge Brett Kavanaugh at the senate hearing that I used the wrong name several times in my last blog. The outcome was preordained by the senate Republicans, but it is still disturbing. I've decided to change the subject since I can't do anything about it now. Be Who you Are In today's world there is a need for genuine people. People who are not hiding behind a mask or…

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THE AMERICAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS NEED TO STEP UP OR RESIGN

THE AMERICAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS NEED TO STEP UP OR RESIGN

American Catholics are increasingly skeptical of how the Pope is handling sex abuse in the church, according to the Pew Research Center. Less than half say he is doing a "excellent" or even "good" job on the issue, according to a survey taken in January, before the most recent scandals. We know the present news about the problem:  Catholic bishops have launched investigations into sexual misconduct in seminaries in Boston, Nebraska and Philadelphia.  The former archbishop of Washington resigned from the…

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CONTRACEPTION: THE POPE GOT IT WRONG FIFTY YEARS AGO AND IT I PAST TIME TO SET IT RIGHT

CONTRACEPTION: THE POPE GOT IT WRONG FIFTY YEARS AGO AND IT I PAST TIME TO SET IT RIGHT

The Archdiocese of Seattle publishes Northwest Catholic magazine. In its last issue was an article entitled Humane Vitae Turns 50 by Sarah Bartel (www. drsararhbartel.com) she has a doctorate in moral theology and ethics from the Catholic University of America where she specialized in marriage, family, sexual ethics and bioethics The Encyclical she refers to is the one issued by Pope Paul VI in July of 1968 reaffirming the ban against using contraceptives by married couples. She begins the article…

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THE JUDGMENTAL AND SELF RIGHTEOUS BIAS OF BISHOP THOMAS JOSEPH TOBIN

THE JUDGMENTAL AND SELF RIGHTEOUS BIAS OF BISHOP THOMAS JOSEPH TOBIN

Thomas Joseph Tobin is an American Bishop in the Roman Catholic Church at Providence Rhode Island. He was born in 1948 and after studying in Rome was ordained to the priesthood in 1973.   Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop in 2005. Bishop Tobit falls into that category of American prelates whose self-righteous conviction that they are on the exclusive high moral ground closes all doors to other viewpoints. This is a Bishop who became involved in a public dispute…

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THE STORY OF THE CONVERSION & EXECUTION OF TOKICHI ISHII

THE STORY OF THE CONVERSION & EXECUTION OF TOKICHI ISHII

In 1918 a 47 year old Japanese man, Tokichi Ishii, was hanged for murder in Tokyo. The story of his life and conversion to Christianity has been written by the man himself, while waiting in prison for his execution. His autobiography,  A Gentleman in Prison, The Story of Tokichi Ishii, Written in Tokyo Prison, was translated to English and published in 1920. His story became one of the most famous in Japan. He was a notorious Japanese thief and murderer. He…

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POLITICS AND RELIGION – A BAD MIX FOR AMERICA

POLITICS AND RELIGION – A BAD MIX FOR AMERICA

In honor of National Day of Prayer, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order entitled "Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty" that will, among other things, fulfill his campaign promise to “get rid of and totally destroy” the Johnson Amendment. That was a rule, passed in 1954, and proposed by then-Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson, barring 501(c)(3) nonprofits, including churches and other religious entities, from “directly or indirectly” promoting political views in a political campaign. That restriction has been lifted…

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SAVE ME FROM THE RELIGIOUS SELF RIGHTEOUS

SAVE ME FROM THE RELIGIOUS SELF RIGHTEOUS

We had a wonderful time with our children on our cruise to Alaska. We left from Vancouver and sailed to Anchorage, returning a few days ago. Three children were unable to make it, but it was a great family adventure for all of us anyway. Hubbard Glacier was beautiful and we had calm seas the majority of the time with only a little rain. While on the trip I read The Political Brain by Drew Westen. It discussed, in part,…

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