I disagree with Kathleen Gallagher’s March 4 Viewpoint, “It’s not about birth control.” If it’s not about birth control, why are the clergy, politicians and radio personalities not complaining about insurance policies that cover erectile dysfunction medications for unmarried men?
The Decline and Fall of the Catholic Church & The decline of the Catholic Clergy in the U.S.A.
Priests
Between 1930 and 1965, the number of priests in the United States more than doubled to 58,000. Since then the number has fallen to 45,000. By 2020, there will be only 31,000 priests left, and more than half of these priests will be over 70. In 1965, 1,575 new priests were ordained in the United States. In 2002, the number was 450.
In 1965, only 1% of U.S. parishes were without a priest. In 2002 this number is 15%.
Between 1965 and 2002, the number of seminarians dropped from 49,000 to 4,700. Two-thirds of the 600 seminaries that were operating in 1965 have now closed.
Religious Orders.
In 1965, there were 179,954 women in Catholic religious orders. By 2002, that had fallen to 75,000, in 2005 it was 68,634 and the average age of a Catholic nun is today 68. In 1965, 3,559 young men were studying to become Jesuit priests. In 2000, the figure was 389.
With the Christian Brothers, the situation is even more dire. Their number has now shrunk by two-thirds. In 1965, there were 912 seminarians in the Christian Brothers. In 2000, there were only 7.
The number of young men studying to become Franciscan and Redemptorist priests fell from 3,379 in 1965 to 84 in 2000.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Almost half of all Catholic high schools in the United States have closed since 1965. The student population has fallen from 700,000 to 386,000. Parochial schools have suffered even worse. Some 4,000 have shut down, and the number of pupils has fallen from 4.5 million to just under 2 million. Catholic Marriage.
Catholic marriages have fallen in number by one-third since 1965. The annual number of annulments has soared from 338 in 1968 to 50,000 in 2002. Attendance at Mass.
In 1958, a Gallup Poll reported that 74% of Catholics then attended church on Sundays. In 1965, it seems that 65% attended, according to a recent Fordham University study. In 1994, it seems that 27% attended church, according to study by the University of Notre Dame. In 2000, the rate was 25%, according to the Fordham study. Indicative beliefs
70% of all Catholics in the age group 18 to 44 believe the Eucharist is a "symbolic reminder" of Jesus. 90% of lay religious teachers reject church teaching on contraception. 53% believe a Catholic can have an abortion and remain a good Catholic. 65% believe that Catholics may divorce and remarry. 75% believe one can be a good Catholic without attending mass on Sundays.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
No one will deny that the Roman Catholic Church has faced its share of difficulties and obstacles in the past few years and the road ahead is - at best - bumpy. And yet -- those attending Roman Catholic Church is still the largest % of the US population AND ..those not attending but not going to any other church is the SECOND LARGEST % of the US population.
I - and millions of others - still believe that the Roman Catholic Church is THE Church instituted by Christ and that it contains the Way, the Truth and Light .. and that the Holy Spirit will help and guide us through these difficulties and obstacles just as the Holy Spirit has guided the Church through difficulties and obstacles for the past 2,000 years.
Now -- back to the topic at hand -- the time has come for Roman Catholics in the US to not only expect but DEMAND that if a Roman Catholic person runs for political office that they should fight FOR those policies and laws that are in keeping with Church teaching and would fight AGAINST those policies and laws which are NOT in keeping with Church teaching. We can no longer afford to vote for a politician just because he or she is a Catholic -- and then quietly complain when he or she votes for abortion or to limit religious expression or other such policies and laws which go against Catholic morality. Too many Catholic politicians have used us for money and votes to get elected -- then ignored us once elected. Now, it is time to give our money, support and our votes ONLY to candidates who support policies and laws which are keeping with Church teaching.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
Now -- back to the topic at hand -- the time has come for Roman Catholics in the US to not only expect but DEMAND that if a Roman Catholic person runs for political office that they should fight FOR those policies and laws that are in keeping with Church teaching and would fight AGAINST those policies and laws which are NOT in keeping with Church teaching. We can no longer afford to vote for a politician just because he or she is a Catholic -- and then quietly complain when he or she votes for abortion or to limit religious expression or other such policies and laws which go against Catholic morality. Too many Catholic politicians have used us for money and votes to get elected -- then ignored us once elected. Now, it is time to give our money, support and our votes ONLY to candidates who support policies and laws which are keeping with Church teaching.
DVOR, I'm amazed! What you just described is a Theocracy. (Theocracy... a form of government in which the official policy is to be governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided, or simply pursuant to the doctrine of a particular religious sect or religion)
Consider this: I m a Muslim American Taliban... "The time has come for Muslims in the US to not only expect but DEMAND that if a Muslim person runs for political office that they should fight FOR those policies and laws that are in keeping with Koran teaching and would fight AGAINST those policies and laws which are NOT in keeping with Koran teaching. We can no longer afford to vote for a politician just because he or she is a Muslim -- and then quietly complain when he or she votes for abortion or to limit religious expression or other such policies and laws which go against Muslim morality. Too many Muslims politicians have used us for money and votes to get elected -- then ignored us once elected. Now, it is time to give our money, support and our votes ONLY to candidates who support policies and laws which are keeping with Muslim teaching."
If I read your post as changed above, any Afghan Taliban would agree that's how government should be run... as a Religious Theocracy. Under your plan, all that would be needed is to create a majority of Catholics who will vote for only strict Catholics... and pass laws that follow their religion... The rest of the USA would be forced to follow your religious laws... No Religious freedom... An American Taliban.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
DVOR, I'm amazed! What you just described is a Theocracy. (Theocracy... a form of government in which the official policy is to be governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided, or simply pursuant to the doctrine of a particular religious sect or religion)
Consider this: I m a Muslim American Taliban... "The time has come for Muslims in the US to not only expect but DEMAND that if a Muslim person runs for political office that they should fight FOR those policies and laws that are in keeping with Koran teaching and would fight AGAINST those policies and laws which are NOT in keeping with Koran teaching. We can no longer afford to vote for a politician just because he or she is a Muslim -- and then quietly complain when he or she votes for abortion or to limit religious expression or other such policies and laws which go against Muslim morality. Too many Muslims politicians have used us for money and votes to get elected -- then ignored us once elected. Now, it is time to give our money, support and our votes ONLY to candidates who support policies and laws which are keeping with Muslim teaching."
If I read your post as changed above, any Afghan Taliban would agree that's how government should be run... as a Religious Theocracy. Under your plan, all that would be needed is to create a majority of Catholics who will vote for only strict Catholics... and pass laws that follow their religion... The rest of the USA would be forced to follow your religious laws... No Religious freedom... An American Taliban.
If one professes to be a Muslim or a Christian or a Jew -- and yet does not abide by the principles and teachings of his/her respective faith -- than he/she is a hypocrite -- a person with no integrity.
One must also go one step further -- one must actually understand Catholic Moral Theology and, in particular, how it relates to having an INFORMED conscience and how one makes moral decisions (including how one votes when elected/appointed to public office based on and guided by an INFORMED conscience. This does not mean that all Catholic legislators and public officials will be in 100% agreement on EVERY possible issue or decision in the public arena. For example, determining whether a war is "just" or whether capital punishment is moral or immoral are two examples of issues that good Catholics operating under the guidance of a properly informed conscience could still end up on different sides of the issue. But there are some issues like murder, genocide, abortion, religious freedom .. for which there is ONLY one side that a good Catholic can properly come down on.
As for your facetious argument about a "theocracy" -- Catholics may be the largest religious group in America but they are not the majority -- someday I hope that they will be -- but even then I don't believe we would have to worry about the risk of a theocracy (in the worst sense of the term). However - I do hope and pray for the day that we return to being a nation guided by Judeo-Christian principles under the Divine Providence of our Creator God. Our founding parents found nothing to be ashamed of in placing their trust in Almighty God and seeking God's guidance -- so we should not be ashamed of placing our trust in the same.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
If one professes to be a Muslim or a Christian or a Jew -- and yet does not abide by the principles and teachings of his/her respective faith -- than he/she is a hypocrite -- a person with no integrity.
One must also go one step further -- one must actually understand Catholic Moral Theology and, in particular, how it relates to having an INFORMED conscience and how one makes moral decisions (including how one votes when elected/appointed to public office based on and guided by an INFORMED conscience. This does not mean that all Catholic legislators and public officials will be in 100% agreement on EVERY possible issue or decision in the public arena. For example, determining whether a war is "just" or whether capital punishment is moral or immoral are two examples of issues that good Catholics operating under the guidance of a properly informed conscience could still end up on different sides of the issue. But there are some issues like murder, genocide, abortion, religious freedom .. for which there is ONLY one side that a good Catholic can properly come down on.
As for your facetious argument about a "theocracy" -- Catholics may be the largest religious group in America but they are not the majority -- someday I hope that they will be -- but even then I don't believe we would have to worry about the risk of a theocracy (in the worst sense of the term). However - I do hope and pray for the day that we return to being a nation guided by Judeo-Christian principles under the Divine Providence of our Creator God. Our founding parents found nothing to be ashamed of in placing their trust in Almighty God and seeking God's guidance -- so we should not be ashamed of placing our trust in the same.
Our founding fathers went out of their way to PREVENT any Religion in our government. I might vote for any legislator who abides by my moral (or religious) standards... if he said that he'd promote laws that follow any religion, I would definitely vote against him/her.
The last thing I want to do is impose my religious values on the rest of society. Many of those values may coincide with the values of society, but to label them as Catholic values is just plain wrong.
Freedom OF religion is also Freedom FROM religion.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Our founding fathers went out of their way to PREVENT any Government in our Religion.
However it appears that the lefty crazy nut job wackos are trying to change all of that in the name of GOV ALMIGHTY!!
And DVOR....it also appears that admitting one is a lefty AND a catholic is an oxymoron to say the least. Apparently the left wing nut job liberals favor pro-death, forcing secular contraceptives on religious organizations, gay marriage and 'outer sex'. The same issues that the catholics are so against.....yes?
Say what ya mean and mean what ya say!! Can't be both!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Our founding fathers went out of their way to PREVENT any Government in our Religion.
However it appears that the lefty crazy nut job wackos are trying to change all of that in the name of GOV ALMIGHTY!!
And DVOR....it also appears that admitting one is a lefty AND a catholic is an oxymoron to say the least. Apparently the left wing nut job liberals favor pro-death, forcing secular contraceptives on religious organizations, gay marriage and 'outer sex'. The same issues that the catholics are so against.....yes?
Say what ya mean and mean what ya say!! Can't be both!
I agree with your comment that the founding fathers wanted to prevent government interference in religion.
And as for your statement "admitting one is a lefty and a catholic is an oxymoron" -- not sure where you are going with that. If you are trying to imply that I am a "lefty" or claim to be a "lefty", you are sadly mistken .. I don't consider myself a "lefty" nor have I ever claimed or admitted to being one. I have been consistently pro-life (across the board .. against abortion, euthanasia and capital punishment). I have opposed forcing religious organizations to pay for contraceptives. Finally, I have never supported "gay marriage".
Just because one is a registered Democrat does not make one a "lefty" nor doe it mandate that one supports, approves or even votes for other Democrats who have taken public stands contrary to Church teaching. Let's just say that I am Catholic FIRST and a Democrat somewhere after that .. so if it comes to choosing whether to support Catholic Church teachings or the Democratic party platform -- I will choose Catholic Church teachings EVERY time. And I am certain that there are MANY other Catholics who are registered Democrats who feel the same way. The issue - which I am raising - is that NOW is the time for Catholic voters and - in this case - Catholic voters who are Democrats to cease being the "silent majority", start pressing the party to change its platform and its candidates .. and if - quite frankly - if the party and candidates refuse to heed our voice -- then I suggest that maybe it is time to look at all our other options.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
Our founding fathers went out of their way to PREVENT any Religion in our government. .
Oh?
While encamped on the banks of a river, Washington was approached by Delaware Indian chiefs who desired that their youth be trained in American schools. In Washington's response, he first told them that "Congress... will look on them as on their own children." [4] That is, we would train their children as if they were our own. He then commended the chiefs for their decision:
You do well to wish to learn our arts and our ways of life and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are. Congress will do everything they can to assist you in this wise intention.
According to George Washington, what students would learn in American schools "above all" was "the religion of Jesus Christ."
Just because one is a registered Democrat does not make one a "lefty" nor doe it mandate that one supports, approves or even votes for other Democrats who have taken public stands contrary to Church teaching.
AGree. However...one could also say....'Just because one is a catholic, does not make them one, nor does it mandate what it supports or approves of.'
The democratic party is a far cry from what it was for our parents. Same for republicans...but that's for another thread. If the reps are labeled, the 'religious right' defending life in the womb, marriage between a man and a women blah blah blah.....then what exactly do the democratic leftys stand for? Just the opposite...no?
I would think that you would take issue with the entire party of lefty liberals that are trying to force a life style upon the folks who's religious affiliation and beliefs are exactly opposite.....yes?
Ya really can't be both!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
AGree. However...one could also say....'Just because one is a catholic, does not make them one, nor does it mandate what it supports or approves of.'
The democratic party is a far cry from what it was for our parents. Same for republicans...but that's for another thread. If the reps are labeled, the 'religious right' defending life in the womb, marriage between a man and a women blah blah blah.....then what exactly do the democratic leftys stand for? Just the opposite...no?
I would think that you would take issue with the entire party of lefty liberals that are trying to force a life style upon the folks who's religious affiliation and beliefs are exactly opposite.....yes?
Ya really can't be both!
Of course -- the Republican Party comes up short in its platform when it comes to Church teachings .. promoting wars, not supporting programs to help the truly poor and needy, promoting tax cuts for the wealthy, refusing to develop a fair and just immigration policy, pushing for capital punishment etc.
The answer may be to form a new party whose platform would more completely follow Catholic/Christian teachings.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
Logged
If the reps are labeled, the 'religious right' defending life in the womb, marriage between a man and a women blah blah blah.....then what exactly do the democratic leftys stand for? Just the opposite...no?
