The Catholic Vote – “Trump’s margin of victory among Catholic voters cannot be ignored.” Has Trump Made the Catholic Vote Matter Again? (National Review)
A Remarkable Quarter Century – “This very month, November 2024, marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the Faith & Reason Institute, the umbrella non-profit organization under whose auspices The Catholic Thing, our TCT Courses, the Fides et Ratio seminars, the Summer Seminar on the Free Society, and much more take place.” A Tale of Faith & Reason (The Catholic Thing)
Intense Cultural Confusion – “We had the benefit of being formed in a culture that was still, in many ways, healthy and sane; a culture biased toward intact marriages and families; a culture with a more or less biblical moral sense. What my age cohort did with that culture is another matter.” On the Matter of Young Adults (The Catholic Thing)
All Honor and Glory – “[T]he dominion promised to the man made in the image of God comes to final fruition in the kingdom of Jesus Christ, who is that man—the one who now sits at the right hand of God … ” Christ the King: A political feast reconsidered (Desiring a Better Country – Substack)
Combating Illegal Immigration – “Europe must take a different approach to immigration—particularly to illegal arrivals—if it wants to reduce instances of what NGOs call ‘gender-based violence,’ Giorgia Meloni has suggested.” Meloni: Rising Immigration Responsible for Increased Violence Against Women (The European Conservative)
Crisis of Identity – “On November 18, 2024, the Mutua Madrileña auditorium in Madrid was the scene of a profound reflection on the global crisis in the West, within the framework of the series of conferences organized by the NEOS Foundation.” Rémi Brague: “Hatred of Christianity reveals its decisive importance in European culture” (Exaudi)
Cardinal Kevin Farrell – “With a curious appointment this week, Pope Francis has shown how much he trusts an American prelate who is now one of the most powerful men at the Vatican.” The curious background of the Pope’s ‘fixer’ (Catholic Culture)
The Synod’s Implementation – “Pope Francis cited principles in his 2016 exhortation Amoris laetitia Monday, in a note calling for the synod on synodality’s final document to be implemented in dioceses worldwide.” Pope cites ‘Amoris laetitia’ on doctrine in synodal implementation note (The Pillar)
The Kingdom of Truth – “This world is the superficial layer that hides God’s kingdom from our fallen eyes. It is the temporal and finite realm while Christ’s kingdom is eternal and infinite.”Christ the King Gospel Lectio Divina – Year B (Rambling Spirit)
Communion and Mission – “The Eucharist is Jesus Christ and Jesus is the key to all effectiveness. We could do nothing without Him. It’s impossible to be an effective missionary disciple without the grace of God.” Evangelization and the Blessed Sacrament (What We Need Now)
(*The posting of any particular news item or essay is not an endorsement of the content and perspective of said news item or essay.)
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Kevin Farrell – the Cardinal who, when he lived with McCarrick knew nothing, saw nothing, suspected nothing – is going to fix the Vatican’s financial woes. Francis’ judgment is what needs fixing.
Whitmer and her witless attempt at humor with the dorito had Catholics protesting outside the governor’s mansion right before the election
I am concerned more about “Combating Illegal Immigration” in the US. The focus in Italy is immigrants who are causing violence against women. We may be unique. Cartels. Sinaloa Cartel is one of the largest drug trafficking organizations in the world. Mexico shows little interest in halting the flow of deadly fentanyl into the US.
Illegal immigration symptoms are more than obvious. We sing: “They’re coming to America, today”. “Give me your tired your poor, your huddled massed yearning to breath free”.
Some say I focus too much on Trump. Why not? Trump’s in-your-face daily diatribe of hatred, lies, and immorality is daunting. He has never shown any remorse. I remember in his first campaign Trump said “We will build the southern border and Mexico will pay for it”. President Vincenti Fox was astounded. Trump never asked him.
There is no question that Biden did not “close” the border. However, the bipartisan senate vote on a border bill was defeated. Biden was forced to issue an executive order.
During his campaign, Trump promised, “ON DAY ONE he would be a dictator”. He promised us mass deportation of “illegals”, fire Jack Smith, pardon the incarcerated Capitol rioters, (he calls them hostages), he would eliminate the Education Dept, Ironically, he just picked Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education, ordering her to “turn the lights out when you leave”.
It is estimated that the US has 11 million “illegal” immigrants. Trump’s mass deportation “plan”, if it could really happen, would cost taxpayers $967.9 billion over more than ten years. Trump’s running mate JD Vance of Cat Lady fame and newly Catholic christened, estimated they could remove 1 million people per year. That would last for 11 years. Former ICE head, czar Tom Homan recently changed his mind and said “No matter the cost”. Trump said he would create refugee camps as transition staging sites.
What does Trump’s deportation plan look like? He said he would expect local police to find the undocumented. Seems if that does not work he will “order” the National Guard to pursue them. Then if that doesn’t work he will order the military to act.
In his first term immigration czar Stephen Miller, noted for his cruel strategy of separating babies from their families, was picked for Deputy Chief of Policy. Today, some families have not been reunited.
My take on his “plan”. It will fail because of the staggering cost. The Congress will challenge it. The method of the use of the local police and the military could be challenged in court.
To sum up: We Catholics and patriots must support the president only on his moral approach to major issues like immigration.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/inside-trumps-plan-mass-deportations-who-wants-stop-him-2024-11-06/
More TDS 🙄. We have a moral and national obligation to support the mass deportation of illegals. If that means separating families, so be it. Better yet, deport them all together, and use the military. No price tag is too high. It is a national security issue.
Commenting only on the ten-year cost of $967.4 BILLION…
In only four years, and under both political parties, the United States spent four times that amount, over $4.0 TRILLION, overwhelmingly in COVID financial stimulus programs (https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-106647). Or, on a pace TEN TIMES the guesstimated deportation cost, assuming that deportation actually applies to all 11 million affected people.
Welcome to Washington where no one has understood the meaning of decimal points for decades! As Everett Dirksen, the Republican Minority leader 1959-1969, observed over fifty years ago: ““A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking real money.”
“Trump’s margin of victory among Catholic voters cannot be ignored.”
Maybe not, but they’ll sure try.
@ Intense Cultural Confusion
Maier introduces the book “Young Adult Playbook: Living Like it Matters” to help our betrayed younger generation escape the cultural vacuum that has been dumped upon them. “Structurally the book is broken into three areas of focus: work, leisure, and love.”
Also addressed to young people, and of possible interest, is “A Generation Abandoned: Why ‘whatever’ is not Enough” (Crossroads Publishing, 2017), humbly suggested by your truly as the author.
The final three chapters focus on the “religion” of those who imagine themselves to be “spiritual but not religious,” namely the triad religion of Evolutionism, Technocracy, and the Random Universe. Here’s the link for a CWR author interview in 2018: https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2018/03/29/a-generation-abandoned-why-whatever-is-not-enough/
Among the many quotations in the book is this from Rick Warren, pastor of the Saddleback Church, a speaker at the 2015 World Meeting on the Family in Archbishop Chaput’s Philadelphia:
“In today’s society, materialism is idolized, immorality is glamorized, truth is minimized, sin is normalized, divorce is rationalized, and abortion is legalized. In TV and movies, crime is legitimized, drug use is minimized, comedy is vulgarized, and sex is trivialized. In movies, the Bible is fictionalized, churches are satirized, God is marginalized, and Christians are demonized. The elderly are dehumanized, the sick are euthanized, the poor are victimized, the mentally ill are ostracized, immigrants are stigmatized, and children are tranquilized. In families around the world, our manners are uncivilized, speech is vulgarized, faith is secularized, and everything is commercialized.”
“Trump’s margin of victory among Catholic voters cannot be ignored.”
The election is over. Let’s all come together as Americans and join hands to support our newly-elected president and to wish him well.
@ Cardinal Kevin Farrell
Lawler colors the background of Farrell’s meteoric rise to power with dexterity. Now the issue here isn’t gossip. Rather it concerns the rationale for the appointment by his Holiness. Machiavelli, if he were available to the current Prince in question, would recommend Farrell as an excellent choice because as Lawler shows he is either incompetent or knowledgeable of the great Marcial Maciel and Theodore McCarrick scandals.
That places Farrell in a vulnerable position. It protects the Prince regarding the Maciel dossier and Cdl Viganò’s allegation – Farrell, like Sargent Schultze repeatedly says I know nothing. And it provides the Prince with maximum leverage over Farrell. He can instruct Farrell with confidence. Although, there may well be more involved in the choice of regaling Cd’l Farrell with positions of power that he, the Prince, can manipulate. That also seems to reflect the Prince’s convictions, his choice of men with checkered backgrounds to positions of authority in a makeover of the Church. That we’re all made from the same clay, that we’re all sinners.
From the start, His Holiness has revealed himself as a champion of the sinner, from accusing bishops for throwing stones, a code word for doctrine, at the sinner during the early family councils. That continued pattern is realized in the final Synod document and the strong admonition for parish councils/synods to be completely inclusive of birds of any and all possible moral feathers. That under the pall of condemnation.
Now this can be perceived as realistic and charitably commendable. Or it can be judged as a departure from Christ and the Gospels. We, the members of the Mystical Body, are given a momentous choice. The question is condemned by who? By God, or a Prince who likens himself. It’s a difficult decision if we are convinced charity accommodates. Whereas if we believe the words of Christ, the Apostolic witness that his Word is eternal we possess full assurance.
Correction. Should read: It protects the Prince regarding the [McCarrick] dossier and Cdl Viganò’s allegation.
And why do you think Farrell was lifted out of Dallas right at the time the Vatican was “investigating” McCarrick? Farrell, a career in the DC chancery, – out of all the thousands of bishops – is chosen to head Family Life and Marriage? The housemate and friend of McCarrick is rushed to the Vatican. I doubt it was to primarily establish a new dicastary … which has been no where to be found in the cultural attacks on family life and marriage … but he’s risen through the ranks yet again. Perhaps a Cupich and Tobin placement to make sure they and others were cleared in the McCarrick investigation. A bit more than “perhaps.”
@ Combating Illegal Immigration
There’s a certain politico/religious induced cowardice prevalent among Italian as well as German men [not to exclude by no means Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch and so on] that gives opportune to foreign emigres mainly illegal mainly from Muslim nations. What with a mindless secularist mentality of universal brotherhood, equanimity that in reality is distant from reality.
Take for instance the assault of young Catholic women by gatherings of Muslim men in front of the Köln Cathedral. Where were German men? At home or gathering among themselves basically fearful of government retribution, being labelled fascists by the media should they intervene. Shameful. As well as in Italy and throughout most of Europe.
Giorgia Meloni is woman enough and ethically correct enough to address the psychological diminishment of what it means to be a man. In Italy and on the same day in Germany apparently not by coincidence. I doubt that Pope Francis will praise her. Hungary’s Viktor Orbán will. Catholicism was never meant to be pacifist in the extreme sense of surrendering the right to protect oneself and also to come to the defense of our neighbor. Indeed, we’re morally obliged. Young women assaulted by emigres are our neighbors in spades.
Our faith is being gutted of its spiritual fire. When do we ever hear, Repent and penance for the forgiveness of sins? When do we hear Protect the weak? Instead we promote effeminate men. Men who behave like women morally and sexually. Both Ms Meloni and Orbán seek to aright an irrational absence of humanness. Should Trump be successful in his first term it would be anticipated that he will align to some warranted degree with the trend in Europe to regain its cultural moral posture. The one given us by Christ and the Apostles. Not their current representatives.