Sinful Politics in a Liberal Society
In the last several decades (and yes, I’ve been an adult that long) I’ve seen a steady decrease in Church attendance at my local parish. At the same time, I’ve witnessed an ever increasing and more aggressive push both in politics and the media to remove religion from our culture. This secular-humanist agenda is held by the intellectual elite who favor science and progressive philosophy over archaic religion. What is frightening is how all this is playing out in society today.
We live (for now) in a Constitutional Republic that considers each person equal under the law regardless of race, religion, or economic standing. That’s not what we are seeing in the public arena. I happen to be an Independent that was a “Kennedy Democrat” once upon a time, but as a committed Catholic, I’ve had to reject that Party because of what it’s liberal membership now supports. While it seems that the Democratic Party may become an enemy of several basic rights, it is certainly dividing our citizens along racial, religious, and economic lines.
With Obama’s election as our first black President, we all hoped that the old racial tensions might finally dissipate. Who would have thought that anyone disagreeing with this President would be automatically called racist? One of our first amendment rights is the freedom of speech…the right to disagree with government policy with impunity. So it appears that Democrats would rather engage in slanderous name calling than hear an opposing point of view. Seems to be a blatant violation of commandment number nine, but that’s irrelevant in secular politics.
Democratic politicians support the President’s healthcare initiative requiring religious organizations to provide insurance that pays for abortions, even though this may be diametrically opposed to religious beliefs.
I am pro-life…. from conception to natural death, in keeping with the sixth commandment. Democrats, however, have embraced progressive liberalism and are pro-choice; they find it acceptable to kill another person through abortion or euthanasia.
Furthermore, this President encourages envy of the wealthy every time he invokes the “fair share” tax policy and his desire to redistribute wealth. He frames capitalism as a form of greed instead of the economic system that it is, and incites hatred of those who have been successful through their own hard work. There goes number ten.
Then there are the “Deadlies” that have become socially acceptable under the protection of secular humanism. Sloth and greed are given leading roles in an entitlement society where everyone deserves something for nothing, and self-esteem is valued above effort. Lust ensures the need for contraceptives (those poor college kids), while wrath takes over should a person feel deprived. What’s a little “occupier” violence in a free society? Then we’re right back to those proud intellectuals that continue to insist they have all the answers for this mess they’ve created.
We’ve come a long way from “One Nation, under God”.
Crisis of Faith
The Affordable Health Care Act was unpopular from its inception. People wanted the Obama administration to focus on improving the economy, not on creating another government agency. However, the democratic super majority in the first two years of this administration, rushed this bill into law without full prior disclosure. Remember Pelosi stating that they have to pass it in order for us to know what’s in it?
Now we have a law that requires Catholics to support the progressive liberal agenda on women’s reproductive rights, in direct opposition to basic tenets of their faith. This assault on the first amendment right to freedom of religion has aroused concern from many religious groups, and for good reason.
The administration is now scrambling to come up with some sort of accommodation, perhaps a waiver, that will permit Catholics not to support contraception and/or abortion. Can you see the danger here? By passing this law, and trying to get Catholics to accept a waiver, this administration is instilling the idea that the government can “allow” religious practice. This is unacceptable… GOD gave us this freedom and government may not take it away without our consent. This law infringes on a basic right, one that thankfully our founding fathers acknowledged in our Constitution. This law is unconscionable and unconstitutional. If you agree, contact your representatives. (usa.gov)
Into the Arena
The politically correct among us have succeeded in launching an unprecedented attack against the religious freedom of Americans led by HHS director Kathleen Sebelius in support of the Affordable Care Act.
While waiting for the Supreme Court to adjudicate on the constitutionality of mandating participation in Obama’s health care, director Sebelius in a press release presumptively declared that nonprofit (religious) organizations have one year to comply with all provisions of the Affordable Care Act.
Several federal conscience protection laws already exist, among them the Weldon Amendment, PSHA section 245, and the Church Amendments. These laws, which protect people of faith from having to choose between their jobs and their conscience on issues like abortion, were enacted following Roe vs Wade. Director Sebelius, in coordination with the Obama Administration, is using the contraceptive availability clause to separate healthcare organizations from these protections.
This final rule regarding the Affordable Care Act breaks with a long-standing tradition upholding the belief that our nation should never require an individual to violate their moral or religious beliefs to have access to health care. It removes protection from discrimination/ coercion based on moral or religious beliefs. It violates religious freedom.
As Americans, we should all object to the further disintegration of our freedoms under the guise of government defined “common good”. As Catholics, we must take action to defend the right to live our faith without fear of government punishment. The irony that a “Catholic” like Sebelius would endorse this Act, only highlights the lack of authentic morality in Washington. Pray for Kathleen Sebelius….pray for us all. The lions await.
(HHS.gov – News release 1/20/12; A summary of federal conscience laws can be found at heritage.org )
A Simple Message
For many years now, we have limited our “outdoor” Christmas decorating to a Nativity in our front window. My husband cleverly positioned lighting so it appears that a star is shining on the scene below. We even blocked out the room with black felt, to eliminate extraneous lighting from the inside. We try to set it up right after Thanksgiving, and it remains in place into January for the Epiphany.
Last evening our doorbell rang. A local woman that travels our street in the early morning hours to work stopped to compliment the display. She said she has enjoyed it over the years, and as a Catholic has found inspiration in its simplicity.
It is heartening to experience the power of this simple message in others…..”For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
(John 3:16) Amen.
Merry Christmas!
Perception is Everything
This is a fairly common mantra in education, business and politics today, stemming in part from current research in brain function. Brain research has identified the amygdala as a center of strong emotion, in particular fear, whereas the hippocampus has been associated with learning and memory. One learning construct resulting from this information suggests that learning / memory cannot happen in the presence of fear. For this reason, many educational programs focus on the environment; making the student feel comfortable and safe as a prerequisite to learning. Another less touted implication for social engineering is this: keep people afraid and they can’t effectively use their intellect.
Promoting superficial perceptual awareness as a goal is an affront to the dignity and individuality of people; it defines us solely as animals with limited and predictable responses. This ideology creates a foundation for manipulation, for it holds that individuals respond only to what they see and hear, with no capacity for inner reflection. It allows for control of others by tapping into their feelings or emotions…which are among the most primitive of human behaviors. In our economic system, fear sells many things like medicine, insurance and a variety of products intended to protect our loved ones from harm. Politicians use fear-inducing rhetoric to sell their policies, influence voters’ choices, and to undermine the influence or status of people that oppose them.
The good news is that we are more than just physical bodies; we are spirits as well, by nature of our God-given souls. We are also given intellect, which allows us to consider and choose our path in life… the basis of free will. I believe that people living under the influence of God (Christians) are able to react differently than scientists predict. In simplest terms, God is love, and perfect love casts out fear. By accepting God and living in His love, some individuals are able to discern the truth and reject the influence of businessmen and politicians. Perhaps this is why Christians are targeted by those that would assert control through fear.