Monday, September 28, 2009

What Catholic Bishops could learn from Sarah Palin

Excerpted without comment from Frank Walker at Catholic lay blog PewSitter.com:
Sarah Palin is starting to slowly re-appear on the world scene. Now that she is free of the hopeless McCain campaign and no longer tied up in Alaska, she’s presenting a clear ideology with a potent delivery. It's a pure antidote to the current American pathology. Many U.S. Catholic leaders, so key to the liberal government’s ascendance, should try to hear what Sarah is ready to teach the country.

[..]

From their holy offices many bishops are keen to promote uncontrolled immigration, an end to capital punishment for brutal killers, subsidized housing, and free healthcare even at the expense of the Catholic conscience. When we hear bishops condemn abortion today, we must ask ourselves if his Excellency has a sincere interest in what he is saying based upon his actions, or whether he is just using genocide to rally the faithful toward another deadly statist cause.

In her Asian speech Sarah Palin mentioned government re-distribution and its flaws. Considering all the compromises bishops have been making in the name of social justice, perhaps Mrs. Palin in her common sense way could teach from the lives of Christ and St. Mary Magdalene. It was not a small, simple thing for Magdalene to be changed by Jesus. She showed her gratitude with a priceless jar of perfume at the house of the Pharisee. Even with this extravagance, her loving affection, and the entirely humble spectacle the honor and appreciation could never repay. Regardless, the apostle Judas, humiliated by the scene and envious of the "misused" money, took what he saw as a weak moment to publicly challenge, "Why was not this ointment sold and given to the poor?"

Even for someone without any faith there was much to envy in Jesus. Judas must have been that way. He held the money bag, he was a thief and the other apostles had to go to him for what they needed. Although ill-gotten, that perfume still belonged to Mary. She had not stolen it. She broke the jar for Jesus. He had not asked for it. Where were Judas' rights in the matter? This exchange was not his to possess or to advise. Perhaps after years of deciding the fate of other people's money, he'd forgotten to whom things belong; he elevated his own choice and wisdom.

Speaking critically of the current U.S. political climate, Sarah Palin has said, "There is no justice in taking from one person and giving it to another." Some of our bishops might learn a thing or two from Palin. It sounds like she grasps the scriptural story of Mary Magdalene, Jesus, and Judas. I wonder whether some of our bishops do.
- JP

1 comment:

  1. Very nicely stated. Sometimes I wonder why they even bother to come on Sunday. Is it so they can see taxpayers? Maybe to see people who actually believe the Bible is Holy? I don't know. I just feel like breaking the law (give to Ceaser what is Ceaser's, give to God what is God's) is a sin. Are they not accountable? Yes, they are. Especially the elders. "For anyone who cause one of these to stumble..." It would be better for them to put a mulberry bush around their neck!

    Oh my, I didn't realize I had been holding that in for so long. Do not get me wrong, I am a sinner myself! Everyday I have evil thoughts. Sometimes against own countrymen. I need to repent of this, over and over again. Is that true repentence? I do not think so. Maybe I should ask for God's mercy and forgiveness and guidence instead. I don't want evil thoughts.

    Such as Democrats are Marxists, they're ruining the country, they get away with everything and Christians have no rights...oh, wait a minute. Those are not thoughts. That is TRUE! It must be my anger at it that I need to watch?

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