“Stop judging, that you may not be judged.” “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?” (Matt. 7:1, 3) We are reluctant to criticize others, probably because we don’t take criticism very well ourselves. We often rely on the above statements ofContinue reading “Admonish the Sinner”
Tag Archives: conscience
God’s Binary World
The spirit of relativism, which rules our society, insists that any choice we make, as long as it makes us “feel good,” is the right choice. God tells us that isn’t so. We have two choices, God, or not God. This is the question Joshua asks the Israelites just before his death after recounting theContinue reading “God’s Binary World”
Pope Francis and the 2024 US Election
In a recent interview Pope Francis is quoted as saying, “In political morality, it is generally said that not voting is bad, not good: one must vote. And one has to choose the lesser evil.” In this interview he acknowledges that abortion is killing but he also says that the one who throws out migrantsContinue reading “Pope Francis and the 2024 US Election”
One May Not Do Evil that Good May Come of It
(CCC 1756, 1761, 1789) How critical is intent in one’s actions? Article 1756 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) states, “It is therefore an error to judge morality of human acts by considering only the intention that inspires them or the circumstances (environment, social pressure, duress or emergency, etc.) which supply their context.Continue reading “One May Not Do Evil that Good May Come of It “
Choosing and Choice
Why is it that the most godless political party keeps trying to convince others, especially Christians, that God is really on their side? They’ve done it on billboards, in response to chastisement by a religious leader (e.g., Nancy Pelosi), and even two open letters (here and here) declaring their adherence to Catholic principles. Archbishop Cordileone (Pelosi’s bishop) and others responded, apparently to noContinue reading “Choosing and Choice”
Democrats Again Try to Claim Religious Faithfulness
“When we Christians behave badly, or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity Once again, in a brazen attempt to convince themselves and others, a group of thirty self-professed pro-choice Catholic Democrat representatives have written a letter claiming to be “making real the basic principles atContinue reading “Democrats Again Try to Claim Religious Faithfulness”
A Time for Reflection
Christians around the world are embarking on the solemn season of Lent. This is a period for reflection, prayer, fasting, and repentance. For Catholics it is part of the liturgical year, the cycle of feasts and celebrations, much like the cycle of feasts God instructed the Israelites to observe after He brought them out ofContinue reading “A Time for Reflection”
Death: Are You Ready?
I fell in my driveway yesterday, landing on my shoulder and banging my head right above the eye hard on the concrete. My wife insisted on taking me to the emergency room. Anyone who has been to the E.R. for anything knows what that is like – perkatory. Perkatory is that agonizingly endless interval enduredContinue reading “Death: Are You Ready?”
True Marriage and Christian Love
[Jesus said] “Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one’? So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God hasContinue reading “True Marriage and Christian Love”
Elections Coming: Check your conscience
(This is the full version of my essay on checking one’s conscience for the coming election. The previous election post, “2022 Elections Coming: Is your conscience ready,” was condensed from this so it could be submitted for publication in the Richmond Diocesan Newspaper, The Catholic Virginian, and was published on September 19, here.) Pope St.Continue reading “Elections Coming: Check your conscience”
2022 Midterm Elections: Is Your Conscience Ready?
“In the depths of his conscience, man detects a law … always summoning him to love good and avoid evil, the voice of conscience [which] speaks to his heart…” Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes The midterm elections are less than 100 days away. Now is time to review our duties and responsibilities as Catholics in theContinue reading “2022 Midterm Elections: Is Your Conscience Ready?”
Feeling Lost? Try God
I think it was The Muppet Movie where some character told Kermit he felt lost and Kermit asked, “Have you tried Hare Krishna?” Lots of people feel lost today and many more are lost but don’t realize it. Our world has rejected God causing anxiety and discomfort across all levels of society. In a recentContinue reading “Feeling Lost? Try God”
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