Tag Archives: Catholic Teaching

Ten Rights Not Mentioned in the U.S. Constitution

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praying1

One of the very frustrating things about politics for me is that so many people, both on the Left and the Right, speak about rights as if the Constitution (or government, in general) is their source. God is the source of our rights, not any man-made government. In America, certain of these God-given rights are considered to be so basic that, in order to have an orderly society, government must defend them. This is why we have a Constitution, because laws and law enforcement preserve us from the horrific consequences of anarchy. In all other things but defense of basic rights, government is supposed to be silent. Because our rights come from God, and because people have diverse views about God, the force of government in defense of rights has to be limited to the basics in order that our civil government does not oppress those of different beliefs. Our rights, though, are many more in number than what we see in civil law.

Here, in no particular order and paraphrased from the Code of Canon Law, are ten rights that I have, in my understanding as a Catholic believer in God, that are not listed in the Constitution. I have others besides those I list here. The silence of government on these matters does not mean that the right does not exist. It is between me, God, and the Church. Having said that, if any civil law infringes on these and any other rights that I have in accordance with the Catholic Faith, then that law is an unjust law.

Ten Rights Not Mentioned in the U.S. Constitution

1. Right to spread the Gospel in accordance with the teaching of the Catholic Church.

2. Right to express my needs and desires, particularly spiritual ones, to the Church.

3. Right to express any concerns that I may have to priests and to my bishop about matters pertaining to the good of the Church.

4. Right to follow my own spiritual life provided that it is in keeping with the teaching of the Catholic Church.

5. Right to education that is in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

6. Right to a good reputation.

7. Right to be free from coercion in choosing a state of life.

8. Right to inquire about spiritual matters from those I am in obedience to, such as a spiritual director or confessor.

9. Right to worship God in accordance with the Latin rite of the Catholic Church.

10. Right to be subjected to discipline that is within the bounds of the norms of Church law. (No excessive discipline.)

Again, this list is not a complete list of my rights. None of these rights are specifically delineated in the federal United States Constitution and it is certainly not necessary for me, or any Catholic, that they be in the Constitution. What is necessary for me as a Catholic is that my government, no matter which country I am a citizen of, refrain from enacting laws that trample on my rights as a Catholic.

As it stands, the U.S. Constitution protects freedom of religion. That includes any expression of my Catholic Faith, no matter what it may be. Unfortunately, our government is doing more and more these days to trample on our rights as Catholics. The reason is that so many people today see government as if government is God and, as such, the author of all rights. They have no religion apart from government, which has become their religion. While I see God as the source of my rights, they see government as the source, whether as a conservative Republican who believes the only rights are listed in the Constitution, or as a liberal Democrat who believes that rights are determined by majority vote.

Until Americans decide once more to embrace the Founders’ view that our rights come from God alone, and that it is government’s role to defend, even with the proverbial sword, only the most basic of them, Catholics are going to have differences of opinion with people in both parties.

 

 

 

Cardinal Njue of Kenya Slams ‘Catholics for Choice’

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Cardinal Njue of Kenya

Cardinal Njue of Kenya

The pro-abortion fake Catholic group “Catholics for Choice” has long sought to spread confusion among Catholics by claiming that it is “Catholic” to be for abortion and contraception. In Kenya, they are using a billboard campaign, which they have ludicrously dubbed “Condoms for Life,” to do just that. John Cardinal Njue and other Catholic bishops in Kenya are having none of it, though. In a press conference, they slammed “Catholics for Choice” and called on all Catholics to “ignore” these billboards. Thanks be to God for their stand against “Catholics for Choice.”

Here’s video from Citizen News in Kenya.

To Mock Cardinal Dolan, ‘Gay Rights’ Activists Intentionally Dirty Their Hands To Go to Mass

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Intentionally dirtied hands of "gay rights" activists at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Photo: New Civil Rights Movement

Intentionally dirtied hands of “gay rights” activists at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Photo: New Civil Rights Movement

In New York City, early today, “gay rights” activists intentionally dirtied their hands before attempting to enter St. Patrick’s Cathedral for Holy Mass. This was an attempt to mock Cardinal Dolan for a blog post he wrote on April 25 explaining the Church’s teaching that homosexual acts are sinful. In that post, he had shared a story from his childhood about washing our hands before eating a meal.

I was so proud and happy.  Freddie was welcome in our house, at our table.  We both rushed in and sat down.

“Freddie, glad you’re here,” dad remarked, “but . . . looks like you and Tim better go wash your hands before you eat.”

 

Simple enough . . . common sense . . . you are a most welcome and respected member now of our table, our household, dad was saying, but, there are a few very natural expectations this family has.  Like, wash your hands!…

 

So it is with the supernatural family we call the Church:  all are welcome!

 

But, welcome to what?  To a community that will love and respect you, but which has rather clear expectations defining it, revealed by God in the Bible, through His Son, Jesus, instilled in the human heart, and taught by His Church.

The activists are reporting that the NYPD barred them from entering the cathedral unless they washed their hands. They refused.

"Gay rights" activists present their intentionally dirtied hands at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Photo: New Civil Rights Movement.

“Gay rights” activists present their intentionally dirtied hands at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Photo: New Civil Rights Movement.

How do you talk sense into people like this? Imagine, running to get your hands dirty ON PURPOSE before meeting Jesus (in the Eucharist.) Of course, no one who loves Jesus would do that. Consider the story of Martha’s sister Mary and the perfume.

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at table with him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, “Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist at Mass. You do not intentionally get yourself dirty before meeting Him…if you truly love Him. If you truly love Him, you will present yourself as clean in body and spirit as you possibly can.

In the end, this is why the Church is under attack on this issue of “gay rights.” They hate what they do not understand, and so they attack. They consider themselves to be holy saints even as they are intentionally dirtying themselves. St. Paul had something to say about those who believe we can make “grace abound” by intentionally committing sin (dirtying ourselves).

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

 

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For he who has died is freed from sin.

We are all given the grace to be able to turn from sin, and we are all expected to try to do just that. That trying is a suffering. That suffering is our “dying” that the faithful do every day for Christ. We stumble and fall, every day, but we do not glory in sin. We do not TRY to dirty ourselves and then present ourselves before Christ and demand He save us. We try NOT to sin, and we know that if we intentionally sin, we are rejecting His grace.

The idea of intentionally dirtying your hands before Mass is simply appalling to me…because I love Jesus and can’t bear to see Him treated that way. That is a failing of mine. It is the problem St. Peter had with not wanting to see Jesus treated badly. I have to work through that. We all have to work through our failings, not glory in them.

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.

Boston College Selects Pro-Abortion Irish PM Enda Kenny To Be 2013 Commencement Speaker

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Enda Kenny. PHOTO: Irish Daily Star

Enda Kenny. PHOTO: Irish Daily Star

This is so blatantly wrong that it seems obviously intentional. Boston College has selected pro-abortion Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny to be their commencement speaker this year. Note this apt description of Kenny from Mary O’Regan at the Catholic Herald (UK).

Greater unity has occurred in the pro-life camp, while there are signs of mutiny in Kenny’s own party. The older generation of Fine Gael party faithful are scandalised. Many of them would have grown up in the Archbishop McQuaid era, and would have learned by rote that abortion is a mortal sin. They may not have been able to brace the freezing winter chill and take part in the January 19 vigil, but they are shaken by the crude way Kenny dismisses the life of the unborn, and to his peril Kenny would want to realise that these voters (for the first time in their lives) may not vote Fine Gael and could unseat him in the next election.

Indeed, but look at the way Boston College Heights describes him.

“Prime Minister Kenny is an internationally respected leader with a well-known reputation for promoting human rights and causes of social justice, two issues that resonate with the Boston College community,” said University Spokesman Jack Dunn. “It also seems fitting, during our 150th anniversary, to welcome the leader of a nation whose history is intertwined with our own. We look forward to having the Taoiseach address our students on May 20.”

 

University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J. will present an honorary Doctor of Laws degree to Kenny at the ceremony.

Oh really? Well, what do the “social justice” folks at Boston College think about this?

Taoiseach Enda Kenny still remains as one of the world’s highest paid political leaders — despite savage austerity ripping through the country.

Kenny has sparked outrage in Ireland over his support for abortion. It is “the” news story surrounding him right now. It seems it must have been intentional on the part of Boston College to select as commencement speaker “the” most scandalous politico they could think of, with the possible exception of Barack Obama.

 

Great Answer to Common Question: ‘Does Secular Gay Marriage Lessen Sacramental Marriage?’

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I’ve noticed that “gay rights” activists commonly get mixed up about what we marriage supporters mean when we suggest that “gay marriage” is “harmful” to the institution of marriage. Over at PapaFrancis.net there’s a great response to this confusion.

No, “civil homosexual marriage” does not “lessen” the sacrament of marriage itself, or harm it in any way. But, it does make it less comprehensible to most people. If people grow up in an era where “gay marriage” is accepted as equal and equivalent to any other, they will lose the fundamental ideas that marriage is ordered towards procreation and is made up of the complementary natures of male and female.

When we defend marriage as something that can only exist between a husband and wife, we don’t do so to defend the sacrament. The sacrament can defend itself. We do it to defend ourselves and the generations after us from being led astray from the truth by a lie, that men and women are interchangeable, and that marriage is for our own gratification instead of being necessarily ordered for the benefit of our children.

Exactly.