Reader Dan C.

Last updated on: December 30, 2014 at 11:01 am by Mark Shea

Reader Dan C. 2014-12-30T11:01:27-07:00 Mark Shea

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

sends me a somewhat mysterious note, presumable concerning a combox conversation with a reader that I missed. I reprint it here in the hope that whichever reader he means will see it, as well as because I thought it was pretty good and figured others might profit from it too:

Is this an answer for your reader?

I find the poor are an important salve to the wounds.

I do not vote. I refuse to be a part of that system and it has done me well. I voted once in the past 20 years, for THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION OF ALL TIME. In 2004. I felt dirty afterwards and will not vote in national elections any longer.

Understand, I felt that the nation was ruled by ungodly men who awoke each day determined to crucify Christ during the Presidency of George Bush (who I consider as you consider Obama-and I consider Obama as I considered Bush). Bush is a man who compelled, in my view, a nation to fight unjust wars. (The fighting of an unjust war is an intrinsic evil, but the way, and compels a nation to do so. I have friends who went to jail in both the Bush and Obama administrations protesting these wars. I live on the other far side of the political spectrum.) Many conservative Catholics agreed with Bush on this matter who were, as I recognized, good (if incorrect on several matters) Catholics who fought to live their lives as Christians. I discussed these matters on Catholic blogs and was villified (two terms flung about to describe non-Republican Catholics were CINO and “Heterodox”) at that time on blogs entitled “Catholic Kerry Watch” and another blog which promoted the Battle of Lepanto as symbolic of the way Catholics should view the 21st century Christian relationship with Islam (never mind it was the opposite of what was coming out of the Vatican from the pope down).

I recommend having discussions with good Catholics who disagree on politics. But one must start out with the knowledge that these folks struggle with their faith too, like you. That will help the faith, in Big Terms “The Faith” and small aspects, such as “my faith.” Michael Sean Winters is a liberal whose writings promote thoughtful engagement.

Divorce oneself from partisan politics. Care for the undeserved poor. Engage and love the enemy, (which quite frankly for the conservative American Catholic is a liberal Catholic and for liberal Catholics is a conservative Catholic). Pray the psalms.

Uncategorized

Mailbag

Previous Post

November 27, 2012

That about sums it up

Next Post

November 27, 2012 Another sign of hope

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 September 2006 June 2006 July 2005 April 2005 May 2002 April 2002 0000

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz