Archbishop Raymond Burke Leaving St. Louis
Pope Benedict the XVI has named Archbishop Burke to the Vatican's Supreme Tribunal of Apostolic Signatura in Rome.
The Apostolic Signatura is the highest judicial authority of the Catholic Church.
The announcement was made at the Vatican.
http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=148943&catid=40
Archbishop Burke has courageously defended the truth about abortion, gay rights, and embryonic stem cell research, despite the attacks from the media. He has fought the good fight. The Archdiocese stands in his debt for his pastoral care and repeated smacking down of heretics, especially handling the problem at St. Stanislaus. I am sad to see him go, but he is too good for this town. He deserves a more prestigious position. May his successor be as brave as Burke was.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Presidential candidates and "the content of character"
I'm expecting a reaction from the Barack Obama campaign about the question of whether he is Muslim. I can see it now - a flood of anti-Obama sites and pro-Obama sites to deal with this question. This is a snippet from an e-mail I received this week that was refuting what Obama says in public v. what the truth really is:
It is stupid to vote against him for this reason alone. It is also stupid to vote for him because he is Black. So this is the next question in evaluating Obama. Race doesn't make you better than anyone in the same way it doesn't make one worse than anyone. We were taught by Dr. Martin Luther King that we should judge people by the "content of their character", not the color of their skin. Race is neutral, despite what those who voted for him in the primary think. Here's another snippet from that e-mail:
If Obama is not Muslim and is, instead, as he claims, a Christian, then what kind of Christian is he?
He belongs to the United Church of Christ. We already know the anti-white racist teachings of his pastor, Jerimiah Wright. We know that Obama has cut ties to his pastor. But that leaves the question, does he subscribe to the kind of Christianity that teaches a moral code that is consistent with the 10 commandments and Sermon on the Mount?
This is what the official web site for the United Church of Christ says:
"The UCC has roots in the "covenantal" tradition-meaning there is no centralized authority or hierarchy that can impose any doctrine or form of worship on its members."
http://www.ucc.org/beliefs/
"The United Church of Christ is one of the founding faith groups of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.
"http://www.ucc.org/justice/advocacy_resources/pdfs/reproductive-health-and-justice/reproductive-health-and-justice.pdf
I believe this means the United Church of Christ does not meet the 10 commandments and Sermon on the Mount test. We know that people sometimes claim to adhere to a denomination, but don't agree with all the tenets of that faith. So we have to look to the individual to see if they are actually living what their denomination teaches. What is "the content of Obama's character?" Does his claim to be Christian hold water? That is the real question.
Abortion is my litmus test for any denomination or candidate. I can't stomach a person who thinks it is right to kill an unborn baby. That shows a deep character flaw, in my eyes. For me, this article says it all:
Obama is the Most Pro-Abortion Candidate Ever
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/TerenceJeffrey/2008/01/09/obama_is_the_most_pro-abortion_candidate_ever
I rest my case. I have looked beyond Obama's religious affiliation and race. I have followed Dr. King's advice, so I can honestly say I could never give the slightest thought to voting for Obama. I may not like the McCain alternative 100%, but I will do my best to support him. I see too much to lose if I don't. The Religious Right would lose a war, not just a battle, if Obama gets to pick the next two Supreme Court justices.
How has it come to this? We have so few good choices for candidates for President. Is it because so few politicians have a clean enough record to survive the smear campaigns that our political system has become? Do we need to focus on building future candidates instead of discovering them?
10 commandments for future Presidential candidates (and for all of us, for that matter.)
I'm expecting a reaction from the Barack Obama campaign about the question of whether he is Muslim. I can see it now - a flood of anti-Obama sites and pro-Obama sites to deal with this question. This is a snippet from an e-mail I received this week that was refuting what Obama says in public v. what the truth really is:
7. *I Never Practiced Islam* - NOT EXACTLY, you practiced it daily at school,There is no doubt in my mind that Obama is Muslim by birth and training. It is hard to deny that. The question is how much influence will that have if he is elected President? I don't think it is a good thing to have this background if it means he would be soft on Muslim extremists. How can we know if that would be the case? I don't think we can. Obama has such sparse public experience that he is a blank slate. People don't have a complete picture of what kind of person he would be on this issue.
where you were registered as a Muslim and kept that faith for 31 years, until
your wife made you change, so you could run for office. 4-3-08 Article 'Obama
was 'quite religious in islam''
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=60559
It is stupid to vote against him for this reason alone. It is also stupid to vote for him because he is Black. So this is the next question in evaluating Obama. Race doesn't make you better than anyone in the same way it doesn't make one worse than anyone. We were taught by Dr. Martin Luther King that we should judge people by the "content of their character", not the color of their skin. Race is neutral, despite what those who voted for him in the primary think. Here's another snippet from that e-mail:
6. *My Name is African Swahili* - NOT EXACTLY, your name is Arabic and 'Baraka'
(from which Barack came) means 'blessed' in that language. Hussein is also
Arabic and so is Obama.Barack Hussein Obama is not half black. If elected, he
would be the first Arab-American President, not the first black President.
Barack Hussein Obama is 50% Caucasian from his mother's side and 43.75% Arabic
and 6.25% African Negro from his father's side. While Barack Hussein Obama's
father was from Kenya , his father's family was mainly Arabs.. Barack Hussein
Obama's father was only 12.5% African Negro and 87.5% Arab (his father's birth
certificate even states he's Arab, not African Negro). for more go to..... http://www.arcadeathome.com/newsboy.phtml?Barack_Hussein_Obama_-_Arab-American,_only_6.25%25_African
If Obama is not Muslim and is, instead, as he claims, a Christian, then what kind of Christian is he?
He belongs to the United Church of Christ. We already know the anti-white racist teachings of his pastor, Jerimiah Wright. We know that Obama has cut ties to his pastor. But that leaves the question, does he subscribe to the kind of Christianity that teaches a moral code that is consistent with the 10 commandments and Sermon on the Mount?
This is what the official web site for the United Church of Christ says:
"The UCC has roots in the "covenantal" tradition-meaning there is no centralized authority or hierarchy that can impose any doctrine or form of worship on its members."
http://www.ucc.org/beliefs/
"The United Church of Christ is one of the founding faith groups of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.
"http://www.ucc.org/justice/advocacy_resources/pdfs/reproductive-health-and-justice/reproductive-health-and-justice.pdf
I believe this means the United Church of Christ does not meet the 10 commandments and Sermon on the Mount test. We know that people sometimes claim to adhere to a denomination, but don't agree with all the tenets of that faith. So we have to look to the individual to see if they are actually living what their denomination teaches. What is "the content of Obama's character?" Does his claim to be Christian hold water? That is the real question.
Abortion is my litmus test for any denomination or candidate. I can't stomach a person who thinks it is right to kill an unborn baby. That shows a deep character flaw, in my eyes. For me, this article says it all:
Obama is the Most Pro-Abortion Candidate Ever
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/TerenceJeffrey/2008/01/09/obama_is_the_most_pro-abortion_candidate_ever
I rest my case. I have looked beyond Obama's religious affiliation and race. I have followed Dr. King's advice, so I can honestly say I could never give the slightest thought to voting for Obama. I may not like the McCain alternative 100%, but I will do my best to support him. I see too much to lose if I don't. The Religious Right would lose a war, not just a battle, if Obama gets to pick the next two Supreme Court justices.
How has it come to this? We have so few good choices for candidates for President. Is it because so few politicians have a clean enough record to survive the smear campaigns that our political system has become? Do we need to focus on building future candidates instead of discovering them?
10 commandments for future Presidential candidates (and for all of us, for that matter.)
- Value human life in all stages.
- Do follow a moral code.
- Be faithful to your spouse.
- Be a good dad or mom.
- Study macroeconomics.
- Don't do drugs or be an alcoholic.
- Don't be involved in corrupt politics or business.
- Get lots of real life experience that prepares you for the huge responsibilities of public life.
- Improve your character by working hard to accomplish something significant that seemed impossible.
- Help the poor improve their lot in life, not by giving them a hand out.
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