{"id":18106,"date":"2012-06-25T14:03:04","date_gmt":"2012-06-25T19:03:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.austincnm.com\/?p=18106"},"modified":"2012-06-25T14:03:04","modified_gmt":"2012-06-25T19:03:04","slug":"trudging-into-a-political-no-mans-land","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2012\/06\/trudging-into-a-political-no-mans-land\/","title":{"rendered":"Trudging into a Political No-Man’s Land"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Photo credited to commons.wikimedia.org<\/p><\/div>\n

It is no secret that our federal government is becoming an enemy of our Church.\u00a0 The Health and Human Services mandate has pitted law against conscience, making it impossible for Catholic health institutions to faithfully serve both God and state.\u00a0 America has been slipping down an ethical slope for decades, but the last few years have yielded for our nation unprecedented fruits of social acceptance of rebellion against God’s laws.\u00a0 The national pulse was taken at the previous election and will be taken again this fall.<\/p>\n

Let there be no illusions.\u00a0 The idol of the political left is power; that of the political right is wealth.\u00a0 Neither can honestly be called Christian.\u00a0 There exist degrees of evil.\u00a0 Those stances which deliberately intend to deny the nature of humanity or terminate human life in any form are intrinsically evil, and therefore should not under any circumstances be upheld.\u00a0 The Church has identified five intrinsic evils prevalent in our time: abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, human cloning and same-sex “marriage”.<\/p>\n

The Catholic Church is not a political institution.\u00a0 Its role is to clearly communicate to the world what is right and what is wrong, and to lay down principles to be used in politics, industry, etc. that can be used to make ethical decisions.\u00a0 It is the duty of all to choose the lesser evil.\u00a0 The fact that one political party may more than another align itself with a form of evil does not transform ethical principles into political principles.\u00a0 Any regime that creates political issues out of matters of right and wrong places politics where politics does not belong.\u00a0 This tactic has been used in the past to attempt to coerce the faithful, and it may be used again.<\/p>\n

It is indeed unfortunate that many who identify with the Catholic Church have created confusion and scandal by taking public stands on ethical issues that are at odds with orthodox Catholic teaching.\u00a0 However, the pope and to a great degree the American bishops have admirably stepped up to speak the truth and make a public stand for what is right.\u00a0 The time may be coming soon when all believers will have to choose between living a comfortable life and living a faithful life.\u00a0 May we all have the courage to stand in the face of persecution and witness to the truth, in our political choices and in the examples of our lives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is no secret that our federal government is becoming an enemy of our Church.\u00a0 The Health and Human Services mandate has pitted law against conscience, making it impossible for Catholic health institutions to faithfully serve both God and state.\u00a0 America has been slipping down an ethical slope for decades, but the last few years… [Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":95,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-18106","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-blog","7":"entry","8":"has-post-thumbnail"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":40267,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/08\/taxing-the-churches-going-for-the-jugular\/","url_meta":{"origin":18106,"position":0},"title":"Taxing the Churches: Going for the Jugular","author":"Matt Sullivan","date":"August 9, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Now, Matt, aren't you're getting a little carried away in your political paranoia?\u00a0 After all, no politicians are seriously discussing removing the tax-exempt status of the churches.\" True, but lest you think I've gone off the deep end, first consider that on the long list of \"political enemies\" targeted by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/faith-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Picture courtesy of media.sdreader.com.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/jugular2.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":310835,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2016\/10\/christians-cannot-rely-on-law-to-evangelize\/","url_meta":{"origin":18106,"position":1},"title":"Christians Cannot Rely on the Law to Evangelize","author":"Crist\u00f3bal Almanza Herrera","date":"October 20, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"There is a strange sentiment among American Christians that makes us think that we are somehow God\u2019s favored ones in the world. This vision imagines the American Constitution as a perfect document almost equal to the Gospels. Our nation\u2019s capitol is a physical embodiment of this idea, like a great\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/faith-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"christian-cannot-rely-on-the-law-to-evangelize","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Christian-Cannot-Rely-On-The-Law-To-Evangelize-550x288.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Christian-Cannot-Rely-On-The-Law-To-Evangelize-550x288.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Christian-Cannot-Rely-On-The-Law-To-Evangelize-550x288.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10004,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2012\/01\/the-attack-on-conscience\/","url_meta":{"origin":18106,"position":2},"title":"The Attack on Conscience","author":"Chris Williston","date":"January 23, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Last week, the Obama administration's Department of Health and Human Services announced the final version of a rule that would require all employers and insurers to provide sterilization and contraceptives, including some abortion inducing drugs in their health plans. Although it was earlier announced that certain religious organizations would be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"United Sates Capitol building","src":"http:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/2\/2f\/United_States_Capitol_-_west_front_tilt_correct.jpg\/320px-United_States_Capitol_-_west_front_tilt_correct.jpg","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":26009,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2012\/11\/what-does-it-mean-to-vote-catholic\/","url_meta":{"origin":18106,"position":3},"title":"What Does it Mean to “Vote Catholic”?","author":"Kathryn Whitaker","date":"November 6, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Well, I know what it doesn't mean. Jesus loved both the elephant and the donkey. He created them both! For months (or has it been years?) we've been hearing from the two main political candidates running for office as to why they are the \"right\" choice for America. Today, millions\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/ACNM_vote-Catholic-300x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":43494,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2014\/01\/church-cant-win-culture-war\/","url_meta":{"origin":18106,"position":4},"title":"Why the church can’t win a culture war.","author":"Trenton Henrichson","date":"January 23, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 According to Wikipedia the term \u201cCulture War\u201d was derived from the German word Kulturkampf (cultural struggle).The Kulturkampf was literally a set of 19th century Prussian laws designed specifically to undermine the Catholic church. Among other things these laws temporarily expelled the Jesuit, Franciscan and Dominican brothers from Prussia. Americans\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/faith-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"1241px-US_House_2012.svg","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/1241px-US_House_2012.svg_-300x174.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":43109,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/12\/popenomics-101\/","url_meta":{"origin":18106,"position":5},"title":"Popenomics 101","author":"Trenton Henrichson","date":"December 26, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"So how about that new Pope eh? Who? Pope Fancis? Oh I think you mean The\u00a0ambassador of atheists? The tolerator of homosexuals? Champion\u00a0of the Internet? Man of the year? The bishop of Rome, and vicar of Christ? The supreme pontiff of the universal Church? Whats not to love? I heard\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"pope","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/pope.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/95"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18106"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18106\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18106"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18106"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}