10-24-2024, 02:43 PM
Let me begin by saying I realize how contentious an issue this is.
I completely understand the gravity of taking the position to not cast a vote in the upcoming presidential election.
It 'feels' as if doing so would guarantee a win by the [Communist] Democratic Party.
I also completely understand that this is a deeply personal issue for most. I found, when confronted with this idea of not voting for a pro-abortion candidate, it seems like there were so many other weighty issues beyond abortion that are at stake.
But we are being asked to vote for a man who advocates for some level of abortion. The same abortions that were utilized for the covid vaccines, which was why, on a spiritual level, we could not take them.
After a great deal of reflection and prayer it seems - to me - if I examine the issue thru the lens of the Faith, I cannot help but arrive at the conclusion that we sometimes forget what the Church has always taught about political authority and power. As the Catholic theologian and historian, Eusebius noted, the Christian emperors acknowledged that their power came from above, not from human or pagan sources. This has long been the Catholic perspective: that the power of Caesar, as a human ruler, originates from God above, not from human authority. We all know that voting is 'human authority'...
Our Lord said as much to Pontius Pilate, taken from John 19:
This election, as the with the last one, where most argue by the numbers Trump should have won, is in God's hands. It seems God did not allow Trump to retain what most believe was his rightful place in the Office of the President in 2020. God does not 'need' us to vote to place in power who He will. It is only for us to keep the Commandments and keep the Faith - no compromise.
In the darkness of our days, it is easy to forget in the frenzy constantly whipped up right now that Our Lord is in control. Nothing happens that is not allowed or willed by Him. Perhaps we are victims of being repeatedly told that we control the outcome of our elections so much that we have believed it. But I think that stopped being true some time ago.
I have great respect for Archbishop Vigano but I am not sure he is right on this topic. Perhaps he is. We will know at our judgement.
What we do know is that abortion is a violation of the Commandment, Thou Shalt Not Kill. How many times in non-election years we hear Catholics and Protestants both bemoaning that our country is ripe for punishment for the great crime of abortion. If the Catholics especially, support someone who disregards the Commandments, would we not rain down more punishment on our poor country? And our hopes for a revival will only lead to a worsening of our present condition? Did God not punish the Israelites over and over when they disregarded His laws? It is almost like Eve in the garden, given false promises if she disobeyed what God commanded her.
And I say sincerely, there was never an intention of shaming or offending anyone by allowing the OP. To me, their comments were not a judgement against anyone but a worry. We are all trying to help each other get to heaven. To remind each other of the Church's teaching, of Our Lord's words on this matter is not meant to be hurtful, only helpful.
When the SSPX's treachery and compromise in 2012 was brought to my attention by a now-good friend, I didn't believe them. But I am ever grateful they risked my irritation to tell me, to let me know of the real situation. I hope that what has been written here, and elsewhere on the Catacombs, is taken in that same spirit. We all have free will.
May Our Lady of Fatima guide our hearts and minds so that we may always be found faithful.
I completely understand the gravity of taking the position to not cast a vote in the upcoming presidential election.
It 'feels' as if doing so would guarantee a win by the [Communist] Democratic Party.
I also completely understand that this is a deeply personal issue for most. I found, when confronted with this idea of not voting for a pro-abortion candidate, it seems like there were so many other weighty issues beyond abortion that are at stake.
But we are being asked to vote for a man who advocates for some level of abortion. The same abortions that were utilized for the covid vaccines, which was why, on a spiritual level, we could not take them.
After a great deal of reflection and prayer it seems - to me - if I examine the issue thru the lens of the Faith, I cannot help but arrive at the conclusion that we sometimes forget what the Church has always taught about political authority and power. As the Catholic theologian and historian, Eusebius noted, the Christian emperors acknowledged that their power came from above, not from human or pagan sources. This has long been the Catholic perspective: that the power of Caesar, as a human ruler, originates from God above, not from human authority. We all know that voting is 'human authority'...
Our Lord said as much to Pontius Pilate, taken from John 19:
Quote:6 When the chief priests, therefore, and the servants, had seen him, they cried out, saying: Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith to them: Take him you, and crucify him: for I find no cause in him. 7 The Jews answered him: We have a law; and according to the law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. 8 When Pilate therefore had heard this saying, he feared the more. 9 And he entered into the hall again, and he said to Jesus: Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Pilate therefore saith to him: Speakest thou not to me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and I have power to release thee? 11 Jesus answered: Thou shouldst not have any power against me, unless it were given thee from above.
This election, as the with the last one, where most argue by the numbers Trump should have won, is in God's hands. It seems God did not allow Trump to retain what most believe was his rightful place in the Office of the President in 2020. God does not 'need' us to vote to place in power who He will. It is only for us to keep the Commandments and keep the Faith - no compromise.
In the darkness of our days, it is easy to forget in the frenzy constantly whipped up right now that Our Lord is in control. Nothing happens that is not allowed or willed by Him. Perhaps we are victims of being repeatedly told that we control the outcome of our elections so much that we have believed it. But I think that stopped being true some time ago.
I have great respect for Archbishop Vigano but I am not sure he is right on this topic. Perhaps he is. We will know at our judgement.
What we do know is that abortion is a violation of the Commandment, Thou Shalt Not Kill. How many times in non-election years we hear Catholics and Protestants both bemoaning that our country is ripe for punishment for the great crime of abortion. If the Catholics especially, support someone who disregards the Commandments, would we not rain down more punishment on our poor country? And our hopes for a revival will only lead to a worsening of our present condition? Did God not punish the Israelites over and over when they disregarded His laws? It is almost like Eve in the garden, given false promises if she disobeyed what God commanded her.
And I say sincerely, there was never an intention of shaming or offending anyone by allowing the OP. To me, their comments were not a judgement against anyone but a worry. We are all trying to help each other get to heaven. To remind each other of the Church's teaching, of Our Lord's words on this matter is not meant to be hurtful, only helpful.
When the SSPX's treachery and compromise in 2012 was brought to my attention by a now-good friend, I didn't believe them. But I am ever grateful they risked my irritation to tell me, to let me know of the real situation. I hope that what has been written here, and elsewhere on the Catacombs, is taken in that same spirit. We all have free will.
May Our Lady of Fatima guide our hearts and minds so that we may always be found faithful.
"So let us be confident, let us not be unprepared, let us not be outflanked, let us be wise, vigilant, fighting against those who are trying to tear the faith out of our souls and morality out of our hearts, so that we may remain Catholics, remain united to the Blessed Virgin Mary, remain united to the Roman Catholic Church, remain faithful children of the Church."- Abp. Lefebvre