Faith

Catholics to Launch Massive Religious Freedom Offensive to Celebrate the ‘Christian & American Heritage of Liberty’

Catholic Churchs Fortnight for Freedom Launches on ThursdayIn January, President Obama inadvertently invigorated the Catholic Church to action when he issued the government’s controversial contraceptive mandate. But the groundwork of intense angst between Obama and the Church was set months before, as The Blaze has previously noted.

The mandate simply served as the final straw between Catholic and government leaders, following a series of tensions that built up on a variety of fronts. This past April, we told you that Catholic Bishops were preparing to take action, as they announced a multi-year, religious-freedom offensive. This year, a portion of the mass effort called the “Fortnight for Freedom” will be undertaken.

On Thursday, this intriguing part of the initiative, a collection of Catholic events across America, will commence. The 14-day event will extend through Independence Day on July 4. During this time, Catholics will assemble for special events in communities across the U.S. The end goal, a web site setup by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops proclaims, is to “emphasize” Catholics’ “Christian and American heritage of liberty.”

“Religious liberty is the first liberty granted to us by God and protected in the First Amendment to our Constitution,” the Church claims. “It includes more than our ability to go to Mass on Sunday or pray the Rosary at home. It also encompasses our ability to contribute freely to the common good of all Americans.”

During the “Fortnight for Freedom,” participants will be encouraged to pray (the church has published an extensive list of prayers), study their faith and take action (here’s a list of resources). Educational elements that comprise the religious invigoration effort serve to educate readers about the First Amendment and the Founders’ take on religious expression.

Catholic Churchs Fortnight for Freedom Launches on Thursday

President George Washington

The Bishops’ web site provides a recap of some of the profound statements about personal expression that were made by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. They read:

George Washington: “If I could have entertained the slightest apprehension that the Constitution framed in the Convention, where I had the honor to preside, might possibly endanger the religious rights of any ecclesiastical society, certainly I would never have placed my signature to it; and if I could now conceive that the general government might ever be so administered as to render the liberty of conscience insecure, I beg you will be persuaded that noone would be more zealous than myself to establish effectual barriers against the horrors of spiritual tyranny, and every species of religious persecution.” (Letter to the United Baptist Churches in Virginia, 1789.)

George Washington: “[T]he conscientious scruples of all men should be treated with great delicacy and tenderness; and it is my wish and desire, that the laws may always be [] extensively accommodated to them…” (Letter to the Annual Meeting of Quakers, 1789.)

Thomas Jefferson: “No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of the civil authority.” (Letter to New London Methodist, 1809.)

James Madison: “[T]he equal right of every citizen to the free exercise of his Religion according to the dictates of conscience is held by the same tenure with all our other rights. If we recur to its origin, it is equally the gift of nature; if we weigh its importance, it cannot be less dear to us; if we consult the Declaration of Rights which pertain to the good people of Virginia, as the basis and foundation of Government, it is enumerated with equal solemnity, or rather studied emphasis.” (Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessment, 1785.) (Internal quotation marks omitted.)

James Madison: “[W]e hold it for a fundamental and undeniable truth that religion, or the duty which we owe our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence. The Religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate.” (Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessment, 1785.) (Internal citation and quotations omitted.)

Catholic Churchs Fortnight for Freedom Launches on Thursday

President Thomas Jefferson

The main goal of the campaign is to support religious liberty, while standing firm on Christian principles — particularly when it comes to the Church’s stance against the contraceptive mandate. Among the elements published on the Bishops’ web site is a prayer for religious freedom that drives home the Catholic Church’s beliefs on the matter:

O God our Creator,

Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.

We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.

Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be “one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

A full list of events is published as well, highlighting the diverse and massive efforts the church is taking in communities across America to tackle the important Constitutional issue of religious freedom. Many churches throughout America will also be ringing bells on June 21 and July 4 to mark the beginning and end of the efforts.

The accompanying events, too, will offer youths and adults, alike, the opportunity to worship God, while reconnecting with an issue of prime importance — the freedom of speech and religion.

Catholic Churchs Fortnight for Freedom Launches on Thursday

A flyer announcing "Fortnight for Freedom" masses

In New York City, for instance, the Diocese of Brooklyn is observing the effort with an aggressive, non-partisan voter registration drive over the next four months. On Friday, Catholic youths from across Brooklyn and Queens will come together for a 12-hour prayer marathon.

In Florida, special masses will be held to encourage believers to stand up for their beliefs. And the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., has setup a special web site and social media campaign to promote its events and efforts. The efforts are diverse, to say the least.

Below, see a video that the Washington Archdiocese created to showcase the meaning of religious freedom:

In a FAQ section for the “Fortnight for Freedom,” the church openly explains its issues with the Obama administration’s mandate:

In short, it is the element of government coercion against conscience, and government intrusion into the ordering of Church institutions. As Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty, testified to Congress: “This is not a matter of whether contraception may be prohibited by the government. This is not even a matter of whether contraception may be supported by the government. Instead, it is a matter of whether religious people and institutions may be forced by the government to provide coverage for contraception or sterilization, even if that violates their religious beliefs.” (Oral Testimony Before the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, Feb. 28, 2012.) [...]

The Administration’s central claim is that contraceptive services are “free” because they save money on childbirths that enrollees in the plan would otherwise have – but that just means premiums paid by a religious organization for live births will pay for contraception and sterilization instead. A proposed “accommodation” for religious organizations covered by the mandate, while not in final form, offers to have insurers or other third parties impose the objectionable coverage – but this only deprives the employer of the ability to provide coverage to its employees that is consistent with its values, and it disregards the conscience rights of both insurers and employees. However the funding is worked out, the simple offer of health coverage by a religious employer will become the “trigger” for ensuring that all its employees receive morally objectionable services in their health plan.

You can find out more about the Catholic Church’s efforts to defend religious liberty and the “Fortnight for Freedom” here.

Comments (141)

1 2
  • 4QU
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 3:16pm

    Here they are, god’s views on the unborn, the actions of righteous men” and god’s commands of infanticide and child abuse:

    Abortion:

    Hosea 9:11-16 Hosea prays for God’s intervention. “Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer. Give them, 0 Lord: what wilt thou give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts. . .Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.” Clearly Hosea desires that the people of Ephraim can no longer have children. God of course obeys by making all their unborn children miscarry.

    Is not terminating a pregnancy unnaturally “abortion”?

    Numbers 5:11-21 The description of a bizarre, brutal and abusive ritual to be performed on a wife SUSPECTED of adultery. This is considered to be an induced abortion to rid a woman of another man’s child.

    Numbers 31:17 (Moses) “Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every women that hath known man by lying with him.” In other words: women that might be pregnant, which clearly is abortion for the fetus.

    Hosea 13:16 God promises to dash to pieces the infants of Samaria and the “their women with child shall be ripped up”. Once again this god kills the unborn, including their pregnant mothers.
    2 Kings 15:16 God allows the pregnant women of Tappuah to be “ripped open”. And the Christians have the audacity to say god is pro-l

    Report Post »  
    • greggo
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 3:40pm

      St. Michael the Archangel,
      defend us in battle.
      Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
      May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
      and do thou,
      O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
      by the power of God,
      thrust into hell Satan,
      and all the evil spirits,
      who prowl about the world
      seeking the ruin of souls. Amen..

      Report Post » greggo  
    • mycomet123
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 5:50pm

      WOW!!!!!!! You are smart enough to get a honorary degree in Divinity from Harvard. I am soooo impressed by your knowledge of misinterpretation of Bible scriptures.

      Report Post »  
    • scarebear83
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 6:09pm

      Ok 4. Besides the fact that Ephraim is part of Israel and they are being punished for doing what all the other nations were doing (which included sacrificing children to a false god). They turned their backs on God and rightly so deserved their punishment. These were wicked people! (note: God does not “obey” any man, Hosea was a prophet, meaning He spoke what God said He was going to do.)

      “This is considered to be an induced abortion to rid a woman of another man’s child.” -For starters where does it say anything about a child? Second of all if this woman has slept with another man there is a possibility of her catching a disease and giving it to her husband (which would have been bad seeing as how there were many laws about cleanliness). If the woman had done no wrong then no problem.

      As for Num. 31:17 there was a reason for this and the answer can be found amongst other scripture: Num. 33:55 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. Deut. 20:18 lest they teach you to do according to all their abominations which they have done for their gods, and you sin against the Lord your God.

      Because humans have free will it is humans who are to blame, NOT God. They are the ones who choose to kill and murder.

      Report Post » scarebear83  
    • mbgna
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 6:31pm

      Forgive him Father, for he knows not what he is doing!!!

      Report Post » mbgna  
    • 3monkeysmomma
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 6:38pm

      The Roman Catholic Church is having an identity crisis. Sadly the one I’m stuck in where I live has decided its supposed to be Marxist. One of our priests called all the children down front and told them Jesus believed in Communism a few weeks ago and that all priest and nuns were practicing communism with their lifestyles.

      On the way home from mass my husband and I had to explain to our 10 and 8 year olds that when a monk wanted to leave the abby, the monsignor didn‘t take him outside a shoot him so it wasn’t quite the same.

      Catholicism is a beautiful faith but I would have left a few years ago if not for my spouse. :(

      Report Post » 3monkeysmomma  
    • Dudley Do-Right
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 7:01pm

      Cut and paste from this website…verbatim!

      http://www.topix.com/forum/news/abortion/T2NASHMDA9R4DCQV2

      Report Post »  
    • destrecht
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 7:07pm

      3MONKEYSMOMMA I am so sorry- sometimes I forget what a blessing it is to live in a strong diocese. (Wichita)

      Report Post »  
    • 4QU
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 7:45pm

      These are quotes taken from your Bible…Your God is a sick twisted pervert..Why would anyone call themselves a Christian?

      If it wasn’t for the Catholic religion and the repression of the Dark Ages when Religion ruled, man would be exploring the galaxy by now.

      You people want science book to add creationism and while we are at it…make sure that the science of Thunder and lightening is changed to angels bowling as its true cause, not friction and resulting electrical discharge.

      We will need to ground all airplanes because if God wanted man to fly, he would have given him wings!

      Report Post »  
    • 3monkeysmomma
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 9:44pm

      @Destrecht

      You are right. When we lived in GA a few years back, it wasn’t this bad. I guess its a regional thing. :(

      Report Post » 3monkeysmomma  
    • blue suede
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:31pm

      4qu, Like so many of the newly, mis-educated, you misquote and take out of context the meaning of holy scripture and use it to lambaste believers. God is the creator and we are the created. As long as you don’t believe that, you can’t possibly understand what you are talking about.

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    • The Third Archon
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 3:36am

      They won’t hear you, because they don’t want to listen–they already KNOW what’s true, now they only need to find the ratiocination to fit their belief, and you are certainly not helping that cause. Ergo, you MUST be wrong (because their religion DEFINITELY isn’t).

      Also, we probably wouldn’t be exploring the galaxy by now, Dark Ages or no–a lovely thought, but the cosmic speed limit (i.e. the speed of light) makes galactic exploration in human timescales something of a challenge. Of course, who knows what the future of science may hold–certainly it has done everything for man that God would not…or could not.

      Report Post » The Third Archon  
    • alinmatt
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 9:31pm

      1 Samuel 15:2-3 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 3 Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”

      Before anyone assumes I believe in abortion, the answer is no I do not. I am challenging the Bible’s moral authority with this question. Is it ever morally justifiable to kill infants and children?

      Report Post »  
  • 4QU
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:55pm

    DBLAESS..tell that to the Native Americans when the catholic missionaries gave them small pox laced blankets to kill them off and steal their land…and make slaves of them, rape their women..yes , the Catholics did much for the world..that is why when the Catholics ruled Europe it was called the Dark Ages!

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    • JimL
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 3:06pm

      University

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 3:27pm

      And… like the Aztcs… they were killing and scrificing humans… and often Eating them. Oh… such a Great Civilization to lament!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • The_Cabrito_Goat
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 4:56pm

      The events in question do not coincide with reality. Even if this did ocurr, to the best of our knowledge, it was the Jackson administration which gave these blankets to native americans. Catholic missionaries had nothing to do with it, and that is a gross rewriting of history to appease your sensibilities.

      Report Post » The_Cabrito_Goat  
    • mycomet123
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 5:58pm

      @4QU, WOW, you are sooooooo smart. You should get a honorary degree from Harvard in History. Small pox LACED? blankets–is that they same as contaminated blankets or were they snorting the blankets??????? Do you know if perhaps the Catholics where raping the women on the small pox laced blankets??????? that would really make it bad. Do some research & let me know will you.

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    • 4QU
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 7:36pm

      On every island he set foot on, Columbus planted a cross, “making the declarations that are required” – the requerimiento – to claim the ownership for his Catholic patrons in Spain. And “nobody objected.” If the Indians refused or delayed their acceptance (or understanding), the requerimiento continued:
      I certify to you that, with the help of God, we shall powerfully enter in your country and shall make war against you … and shall subject you to the yoke and obedience of the Church … and shall do you all mischief that we can, as to vassals who do not obey and refuse to receive their lord and resist and contradict him.” [SH66]

      Likewise in the words of John Winthrop, first governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony: “justifieinge the undertakeres of the intended Plantation in New England … to carry the Gospell into those parts of the world, … and to raise a Bulworke against the kingdome of the Ante-Christ.” [SH235]
      In average two thirds of the native population were killed by colonist-imported smallpox before violence began. This was a great sign of “the marvelous goodness and providence of God” to the Christians of course, e.g. the Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony wrote in 1634, as “for the natives, they are near all dead of the smallpox, so as the Lord hath cleared our title to what we possess.” [SH109,238]

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    • blue suede
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:48pm

      4qu, Once again, you have been brainwashed by your atheist professors and teachers who HATE God.
      Let‘s just get to the bottom of what’s bothering you. It isn‘t God that you’re angry with. It’s yourself.
      You don‘t have answers to life’s most important questions and you won’t allow there to be a God who can give you those answers. So you have to find a substitute and fill in the blanks yourself or allow someone else to ie, professors, teachers, atheists, philosophizing scientists etc. who try very hard to explain away God and who make up fairy tales to satisfy the deepest need in man, God.

      You can’t accept that there is someone other than yourself, who is God. Unwilling to try to understand the Judeo/Christian God and the bible, you lash out in judgmental accusations that are ridiculous to Jews and Christians, who understand the Bible much better than you 4qu.

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    • blue suede
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 12:46am

      WRONG, that’s a very mean-spirited lie, 4qu. Small pox was caused by a virus, unknown in the 15 and 16th centuries.
      Small pox has been with mankind since 10,000 BC and not completely eradicated till 2011!
      You need to read your history from sources other than your rewritten history books before making outrageous statements.
      The first Catholics from France were Jesuit missionaries who worked among the Indians, who already had the effects of small pox. Google it. Wikipedia

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    • The Third Archon
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 3:53am

      That wasn’t Catholic missionaries PURPOSEFULLY giving out small pox blankets–that was settlers (@BLUE SUEDE: and yes while they didn’t understand germ theory and the SPECIFIC causes of small pox, they weren’t retarded either–they worked out that the blankets of people who died of small pox carried the disease by simply NOTICING that those blankets used by people who died of small pox had an ODD COINCIDENCE of giving people who used them SMALL POX). The Catholics only stole Indian children from their homes and took them to boarding schools where they were physically and psychologically abused until they disavowed their culture and religion in favor of the European culture and religion. If they had killed them with biological warfare, then converting them would have been difficult afterwards–remember their motto, “kill the Indian, save the Man.”

      Jeez–get your history straight, lol.

      Report Post » The Third Archon  
  • 4QU
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:43pm

    I don’t know how you feel, but I’m pretty sick of church people.

    You know what they ought to do with churches? Tax them.

    If holy people are so interested in politics, government, and public policy, let them pay the price of admission like everybody else.

    The Catholic Church alone could wipe out the national debt if all you did was tax their real estate.

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    • BenFrank1791
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:51pm

      . …nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of Religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge or affect their civil capacities

      Don’t try to edit Jefferson kid to make your own point, some of us have studied him well

      Report Post » BenFrank1791  
    • 4QU
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:57pm

      Well Ben, then you should know he thought the Christians were delusional…show me were I am wrong or mis-quoted him.

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 3:37pm

      So… you would take Contributions given to a World Wide Church… and use them to resolve you Debt Problems? Sound like.. Obama!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • BenFrank1791
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 4:44pm

      Jefferson repeatedly expressed his belief in a deistic god and his admiration for Jesus as a moral teacher.

      As for his view on freedom of Religion I quote (from a sea of well know quotes on the subject)

      …”One who bears his religion as an emollient to the soul, may have become for his brother a rash… the governace of which is neither the desire nor the condition of the state. It is roguery in the most high form to intervene in such matters that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.” –Jefferson 1779

      Jefferson may have had his opinions on Protestants, and Catholics alike, but he would never have stopped them from exercising their rights to worship how they saw fit.
      He would never tax churchs like you suggest. Nor would he agree with your misquotes and point of view.

      Report Post » BenFrank1791  
    • mycomet123
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 6:02pm

      WOW, You are soooo smart you should get an honorary degree in economics from Harvard. My biggest problem with “CHURCH PEOPLE” is that they are always going to church. I just bet that they just all meet in church to figure out ways to screw the government, don’t you think!

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    • destrecht
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 7:13pm

      I say- you know what they should do? Let them give political opinions. There are plenty of non profit groups (media matters) that give political opinions. Why not churches?

      Report Post »  
    • destrecht
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 7:15pm

      Ok, on a non church oriented point of view- you’re an idiot. If every man woman and child was taxes 100%, it would last ten months.

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    • 4QU
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 7:40pm

      Welll “Ben Baby”…Since you are such a Big Student of Jefferson…Why didn’t you know that these are MY QUOTES…>>NOT JEFFERSON’s…does it say Jefferson Name after these..no!

      Once Gain..These are not Jefferson’s words I guess you had better go back to your large print book of Presidents.

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    • blue suede
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 12:00am

      The Church’s have paid for their property and buildings or had it donated by very generous believers.
      I pay taxes, like all working class Americans. Why should church’s pay more taxes after they use my contributions for charitable works that society is in need of? Such as feeding the hungry, finding shelter for the homeless, running hospitals for the sick and infirm, caring for AIDS patients and the poor, supporting immigration, starting universities and schools, orphanages, homes for pregnant mothers with children, shall I go on? Which of these charitable works do you want to pay for yourself????
      Your taxes will go up to pay for these works if the charities and volunteers and those who devote their lifetime in, can no longer do them.

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    • katherine7898
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 5:45am

      @BenFrank1791: Jefferson sounded pretty annoyed at being labeled Atheist or Deist by the multitude of denominations that wanted an answer to what his religion was specifically. Jefferson followed was Jesus said and did, attached to his doctrines in preference to all others. Not to what Jesus did not say or do, which some other religions followed. He seemed to take outspoken criticism to Calvin.

      @4QU: There’s something terribly wrong with you. No person who just doesn‘t believe in God or Jesus is so militant as you’ve been behaving. I should think, perhaps, that it‘s from childhood trauma or perhaps lost hope when you prayed and thought you weren’t given an answer. It’s probably not something that can be worked out in a comment section, but is this hatred worth oppressing and annihilating millions of people? It is unconscionable and unprecedented that not only the murder of our most innocent is legal, that the government is forcing strangers to foot the bill for it, but that people are being forced against their will and moral beliefs to participate. That is out and out tyrannical. And unfathomable in a country that believes everyone was endowed by their Creator with the inalienable right to Life, Liberty and the PURSUIT of Happiness.

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    • skip893
      Posted on June 23, 2012 at 2:12pm

      4QU; get a life, sarchasim get one no where! Stiffle it!

      Report Post »  
  • 4QU
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:31pm

    Congress should not establish a religion, and enforce the legal observation of it by law, nor compel men to worship God in any Manner contrary to their conscience.

    – James Madison, explaining to Congress during the House Debate what the First Amendment means to him, 1 Annals of Congress 730 (August 15, 1789), That his conception of “establishment” was quite broad is revealed in his veto as President in 1811 of a bill which in granting land reserved a parcel for a Baptist Church in Salem, Mississippi (directly above this entry)

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    • lukerw
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 3:54pm

      So many… Quotes, as if Prepared… and Posts… after only being on this site since June 17… one might think that you are a Liberal Provocateur!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • The_Cabrito_Goat
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 4:53pm

      Correct. Decreeing the “proper” way to worship your God or Gods is wrong, and upsets the relationship between God and his subjects. Theocracy sets up a government theocrat (bureaucrat) creating a barrier betweem Him and you.

      Report Post » The_Cabrito_Goat  
    • mycomet123
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 7:32pm

      Any relation to ITSJUSTTIM?????

      Report Post »  
  • 4QU
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:30pm

    Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprize, every expanded prospect.
    – James Madison, letter to William Bradford, Jr., April 1, 1774, quoted from Edwin S Gaustad, Faith of Our Fathers: Religion and the New Nation (1987) p. 37,

    Report Post »  
    • blue suede
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 12:21am

      4qu, again, you misquote history.
      This letter from Madison to Bradford was written in 1774. Before we fought for and obtained freedom from the Crown (England) and from the Crown’s religious bondage which I assume he was referring to in this letter, (however, I am not an authority) he does mention as well in his letter, that, “….Besides, the clergy are a numerous and powerful body, have great influence at home by reason of their connection with and dependence on the Bishops and Crown, and will naturally employ all their art and interest to depress their rising adversaries; for such they must consider dissenters who rob them of the good will of the people, and may, in time, endanger their livings and security.
      You are happy in dwelling in a land where those inestimable privileges are fully enjoyed; and the public has long felt the good effects of this religious as well as civil liberty. ..”.
      So, 4qu, there you go again, just like mainstream media, taking out of context and making it look like something totally different. That’s sneaky and underhanded.

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  • 4QU
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:27pm

    Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear.
    -Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787

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    • The_Cabrito_Goat
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 4:48pm

      Yes, He does approve of unraveling the mysteries of His universe. That is exactly why He made some of us smarter than others. Remember, enlightenment means a fusion of faith and logic.

      Logic by its self is cold and inhumane. If we were truly a society based soley in logic, then I could not be here typing this. I would have been turned into phosphorous to feed plants once my teachers learned I have a learning disorder.

      Faith alone is okay on it’s own, but it’s like an elligible bachelorette staying home every night. It’s just missing something.

      But together, they form a harmonious symbiotic relationship, respecting the strengths of each and nullifying the negatives of both. If this isn’t true, then how do you explain the 200 years of prosperity since the founding of our country?

      Report Post » The_Cabrito_Goat  
    • 4QU
      Posted on June 23, 2012 at 10:04am

      He made some of us smarter than others???..that thinking is what supports the Christian right of slavery..Whites are smarter than Blacks…you are showing your true colors!

      Report Post »  
  • 4QU
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:25pm

    And the day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerve in the brain of Jupiter. But may we hope that the dawn of reason and freedom of thought in these United States will do away with this artificial scaffolding, and restore to us the primitive and genuine doctrines of this most venerated reformer of human errors.
    -Thomas Jefferson, Letter to John Adams, April 11, 1823

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    • The_Cabrito_Goat
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 5:01pm

      Jefferson lived his life according to how Jesus would have. However, the story of Lazarus, the imaculate birth, and His resurrection? Jefferson did not believe in, which is fine. He saw them merely as metaphors to explain Christ’s wisdom and power.

      (He and his followers conquered whole nations, even the Roman Empire, without ever drawing a sword. How’s that for impressive? Ofcourse Jefferson, a historian, was in awe of him.)

      Report Post » The_Cabrito_Goat  
  • 4QU
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:22pm

    Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law.
    -Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814

    Report Post »  
    • BenFrank1791
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:43pm

      …nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of Religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge or affect their civil capacities

      Don’t try to edit Jefferson kid to make your own point, some of us have studied him well.

      Report Post » BenFrank1791  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 3:42pm

      Common and Civil (or Business & Contract) Law… comes from the Roman Empire… before Christianity… when Emperors were still gods!

      Report Post » lukerw  
  • 4QU
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:21pm

    The whole history of these books [the Gospels] is so defective and doubtful that it seems vain to attempt minute enquiry into it: and such tricks have been played with their text, and with the texts of other books relating to them, that we have a right, from that cause, to entertain much doubt what parts of them are genuine. In the New Testament there is internal evidence that parts of it have proceeded from an extraordinary man; and that other parts are of the fabric of very inferior minds. It is as easy to separate those parts, as to pick out diamonds from dunghills.
    -Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Adams, January 24, 1814

    Report Post »  
  • 4QU
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:21pm

    Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by inserting “Jesus Christ,“ so that it would read ”A departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion;” the insertion was rejected by the great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mohammedan, the Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination.
    -Thomas Jefferson, Autobiography, in reference to the Virginia Act for Religious Freedom

    I concur with you strictly in your opinion of the comparative merits of atheism and demonism, and really see nothing but the latter in the being worshipped by many who think themselves Christians.
    -Thomas Jefferson, letter to Richard Price, Jan. 8, 1789 (Richard Price had written to TJ on Oct. 26. about the harm done by religion and wrote “Would not Society be better without Such religions?

    Report Post »  
  • teddie888
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 1:18pm

    What did the Catholics think would eventual happen after all their yrs of voting for communist Democrats?

    Report Post »  
    • JimL
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:04pm

      Divide until the polls indicate simple majority.

      Relativism, where the share value is mistrust.

      Report Post »  
    • Iamnotanumber
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:05pm

      Woulda shoulda coulda, who cares, now we need to work on the NOW!

      Report Post »  
  • Iamnotanumber
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:55pm

    Many Catholics ARE fighting hard to make a difference, locally, as well as nationally. If all you people can do is bash them, and whine about what has been, you WILL drive them away, to the camp of the opposition. Quit squabbling about the denominational differences and focus on why we come to the Blaze! This isn’t Sunday School, Temple, Mosque, or Church, it‘s a news sight to help expose the things the Main Stream won’t! So grow up and focus on returning this Country to what made it Great!

    Report Post »  
    • teddrunk
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 1:05pm

      Where have you been? They are already in the opposition camp. How do you think the Democrats get elected. This is a joke, a small whine about religious freedom from Catholics now. Where was the Catholic indignation when they were out voting for abortion loving Ted Kennedy, Pelosi or Biden?
      Where was their demand that these that go against the Catholic Church teaching in a very public way, are fawned over by priests and bishops, instead of admonished and excommunicated.

      Report Post »  
    • Thomas Paine
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 1:40pm

      @teddrunk “Where was the Catholic indignation when they were out voting for abortion loving Ted Kennedy, Pelosi or Biden”

      To start off with,
      We were protesting outside of Plan Parenthood, Where were you ?
      Also, The majority of us spoke out against Ted Kennedy, Pelosi & Biden but the Nazi Media didn’t give us air time, Just the few that were leftists which by the way says allot about you. Accepting propaganda from the Nazi Media as fact & bashing Catholics proves you to be a ignorant bigot.

      Here’s a little fact for you.
      God doesn’t care what church you worship in as long as you worship God.
      Bashing people from another church does not serve God, It serves Satan.
      You are Satan’s “female dog”

      Report Post » Thomas Paine  
    • 4QU
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 3:13pm

      I see so many retarded ass Christians talking about abortion being a crime against God.

      It’s not a wonder that they are hard pressed to find a conclusive biblical statement to corroborate their position. In their determination to control women they have been forced to rely on exceedingly weak sections such as “thou shall not kill”,”I kneweth thou in the womb” and their favorite: “When men strive together, and hurt a woman with child, so that there is a miscarriage, and yet no harm follows, the one who hurt her shall be fined, according as the woman’s husband shall lay upon; and he shall pay as the judges determine. If any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth…“–Exodus 21:22-24 The problem here is that the man who injures a pregnant woman in the process, shall repay her according to the degree of injury inflicted on her, not the fetus.

      I am often dumbfounded at how Christians can assume that abortion is wrong judging by these feeble verses when the Bible clearly advocates infanticide and many other atrocities against children and pregnant women. I can no longer allow such ignorance of the Bible and deem it necessary to expose the true agenda. I am tired of the many young Christians who are brainwashed by their clergy. They are only taught the “love and mercy” parts of the Bible and never bother to read what is not so openly preached . The Church thrives off of speaking in half truths and concealing t

       
  • greggo
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:49pm

    Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.

    Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
    And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

    O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise, and ever to rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord.
    …………………………………………
    St. Michael the Archangel,
    defend us in battle.
    Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
    May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
    and do thou,
    O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
    by the power of God,
    thrust into hell Satan,
    and all the evil spirits,
    who prowl about the world
    seeking the ruin of souls. Amen..

    Report Post » greggo  
    • mbgna
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 3:44pm

      AMEN, AMEN, AMEN. The haters posting today do not understand who they are dealing with (Our Lord). They can spew their ignorance regarding the bible and it’s divine intervention of the Holy Spirit to the writers of HIS sacred word but they had better believe that when Jesus said in Matthew 16: 18.: And I also say you that your are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell SHALL NOT PREVAIL against it. HE was not kidding around.

      Report Post » mbgna  
  • BenFrank1791
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:40pm

    The mere fact that praying in ones own church is so hated and controversial compels me to go. I think I will make some phone calls and bring others as well.

    Report Post » BenFrank1791  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:36pm

    What a bunch of hypocrites. Without the Catholic vote, Obama and his religion attacking, baby killing party would not be in power.

    Report Post »  
    • by faith
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 1:49pm

      still spreading the same lies
      Support for Obama in 2008
      53% of all voters
      94% Black Protestants
      89% Black Catholic (Vote based more on race than religion)
      75% unaffiliated
      71% Other minority Protestant
      71% Other minority Catholic (Hispanics were not going to vote for McCain)
      52% less-observant white Catholic
      55% less-observant white protestant
      41% observant white catholic
      41% observant white protestant

      Observant refers to voters who report attending religious service at least once a week.

      Report Post » by faith  
    • Thomas Paine
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 1:50pm

      @teddrunk

      Acorn is not affiliated with the Catholic church.

      Thank you for exposing yourself as a liar & a hypocrite.

      Report Post » Thomas Paine  
    • BenFrank1791
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:22pm

      TEDDRUNK:
      Yes there are Hypocrites in our church, you should come, … you would feel right at home. : )

      Report Post » BenFrank1791  
  • G.E.R
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:26pm

    14 days of groping children in a fun and carnival like atmosphere.

    Report Post »  
    • JimL
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:32pm

      Wow

      Report Post »  
    • dontbotherme
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 5:09pm

      St. Michael the Archangel,
      defend us in battle.
      Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
      May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
      and do thou,
      O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
      by the power of God,
      thrust into hell Satan,
      and all the evil spirits,
      who prowl about the world
      seeking the ruin of souls. Amen..

      Report Post »  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:22pm

    If that Bishop wants any respect from me, he’ll actually do something and excommunicate those Catholic Senators and Congressman that support abortion. Until the Catholic Church actually cleans it’s own house of baby killers, the rest is all window dressing.

    Report Post »  
    • by faith
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 1:52pm

      I am sure the Bishops stay up at night with deep concerns about your respect.

      First thing you should do is educate yourself on excommunication.
      There is no formal process, you pretty much excommunicate yourself

      Report Post » by faith  
    • joboww
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:02pm

      this might be hard to understand but excommunication is not a political weapon of the church…I know your probably shaking your head. But excommunication is only used in very important situations to call the sinner back into communion by putting them out of the church. It is not used to vilify of damn people but to call them to change. Politicians that go against the Churches teachings and even clergy that advocate against the Magisterial teachings are putting themselves at odds with the church and often times de facto excommunicate themselves.

      We know there were bad Catholics and Clergy in the past, get over it it is today not yesterday. The CHurch never changed her teachings and the Bishops who are not in place and the young clergy are staunchly orthodox in their faith, I urge you brethren to not turn your backs now because of past issues but stand with us against this culture of death. I pray the.

      Love and Prayers to you all,

      Joboww

      Report Post » joboww  
    • joboww
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 4:09pm

      @4QU

      I guess if you cant win an arguement you have to create a strawman,

      Cowards act as such, perhaps you are one.

      I will pray for you instead, and hope that you will grow from your errors

      Report Post » joboww  
    • The_Cabrito_Goat
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 5:08pm

      Hey man, that’s not entirely fair. Every organization has bad employees, the Catholic Church included. The hell of the matter is that the media has a certain distaste for Catholics

      This is because a serious social gulf exists between elitist media personalities, who set the news agenda, and your average Joe schmoe in middle America which, ironically, could be fixed by coming under the banner of God. Have you seen how close people are in churches? They hug, laugh, cry and hold hands together. Atleast mine. How wonderful if the whole world were like that.

      Report Post » The_Cabrito_Goat  
    • by faith
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 5:12pm

      4QU (I see what you did there-grow up)
      “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matthew 5:11).

      “Woe unto that man by whom the son of man is betrayed. It were better for that man that he had not been born”

      Report Post » by faith  
  • P8riot
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:59am

    I will stand side by side with the Catholics as we fight to preserve our religious freedoms, and I’m a Mormon :)

    “What unites us in religion is far more important than what divides us in the capacity to speak up for religious freedom.”

    Here are two great speeches on religions uniting our common values to preserve our common right of religious freedoms.

    The first by a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints given at Chapman University School of Law:

    http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/apostle-emphasizes-the-importance-of-religious-freedom-to-society

    And this great speech given by Cardinal George at BYU:

    http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/cardinal-george-addresses-religious-freedom-in-speech-at-byu

    Report Post » P8riot  
    • joyceram
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 1:13pm

      P8riot, thanks for the links. I choose to look for what we can agree upon instead of our differences. Only if we all humble ourselves and look to God for answers will our country be saved. We as a people have forgotten where our source of protection comes, and we need to be more kind, civil, patient and devoted to others instead of ourselves. Only then will we have the right to call upon God. We’ve been mis-lead by our own failings. There is hope and I’m determined to get my life right and help others instead of just thinking of myself all the time.

      Report Post »  
    • P8riot
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 4:23pm

      Well said JOYCERAM.

      Report Post » P8riot  
    • The_Cabrito_Goat
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 4:40pm

      I’ve tried to say this before in my classes at school, but have been mocked and denied speaking further for saying it. But our liberties, our morals, many and most social mores are Christian, not atheological in origin (atheist doesn’t quite sound right)

      I should have pressed my classmates further when I had the chance. Where do our morals come from?

      “Our parents” I imagined they’d say. Well, where do your parent’s morals come from?

      “Their parents” They might say next. I’ll cut to the chase: Somewhere in the past, spiritual texts (not the bible only, but any form of scripture) were once the keystone, the building block of all morality.

      If morality is a tree, then religion is a plant. You cannot be a tree without being a plant, and you cannot be moral without having religion.

      But yes, there are atheists who coexist peacefully. But these atheists dont realize that holding a door open for an old person is loving thy neighbor. They dont realize that donating to charity is being a good Samaritan.

      God existed before anything else. Therefore he existed before morality. Therefore he created morality, and dispersed it among us mortals through his messengers and prophets.

      Report Post » The_Cabrito_Goat  
  • IMCHRISTIAN
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:47am

    There is no one in Government, private life, yes no one who can mock God. For all those that are praising God they will be blessed. Freedom of Religion is for all people and if you do not believe then you have nothing.

    Report Post »  
    • encinom
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 5:07pm

      So a Hindu is free to reject the Christian notion of God and worship his many gods? Than how does this Christian God allow a violation of the 1st Commandment, while blessing the 1st Amendment which is an affront to the first of God’s laws.

      The Founders gave us a secular government to avoid the chaos of theocracies.

      Report Post »  
  • Pray for USA
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:45am

    Praying Fortnight for Freedom raises awareness within all churches the need to stand for freedom of religion.

    Report Post »  
  • angelcat
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:45am

    Great article. I think it is important to note that we Catholics aren’t out in the streets screaming at people and throwing things and spouting profanity. We aren’t threatening violence. We are turning to informing Catholics and prayer which hurts no one and offends only those who are offended by the very existence of religion. I have my prayer and booklet of readings “Reflections for the Fortnight for Freedom’ ready for tomorrow.

    Report Post »  
  • Pontiac
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:36am

    “Religious liberty is the first liberty granted to us by God and protected in the First Amendment to our Constitution,”

    Not before god took away religious liberty with the Ten Commandments, right? Strange how the christian god would allow a nation to write a constitution which conflicts with the bible.

    http://atheism.about.com/od/tencommandments/a/americanlaw.htm (2pages)

    Report Post » Pontiac  
    • SquidVetOhio
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:02pm

      “Not before god took away religious liberty with the Ten Commandments, right? ”

      That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever read. Please keep it up. I would love for you to be the premier ambassador for athiests. ha ha ha

      So the Almighty God that created man should have left the 10 commandments ambiguous and say, “I only created you and you’re every breathe is of my very will but, you can worship false gods, take my name in vain and kill people if you like. I don’t want to be the heavy”

      Good grief. Thanks for the laugh.

      SquidVetOhio  
    • CougarNick78
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:06pm

      How is it be a pathological lying atheist? Tell me, I’m curious….cuz that site is chalked full of some good good fiction.

      Report Post » CougarNick78  
    • JimL
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:16pm

      Declaration is the light in which the constitution was written.

      Relativists read the constitution without the light of the Declaration (under a basket).

      Report Post »  
    • Pontiac
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 3:52pm

      [typical inane non-responses from brain dead zombies...]

      Either god gave us the right to worship as we please, who we please, or no one as we please. Or god gave us no right to do so with the ten commandments. Either we have free speech or taking the lords name in vain is punishable by god. You cannot say the constitution is “god given” and “protected by god” when your god will punish people for exercising those rights he supposedly gave us. If you do not understand or cannot address the blatant conflict, then don’t reply with gobbledygook.

      On a related note
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QWwzT4ulkA

      Report Post » Pontiac  
    • The_Cabrito_Goat
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 4:11pm

      Banning something often has the opposite effect of making it seem more tempting, much like drugs and alcohol, though banned, are still consumed, and possibly even more so because it is seen as ‘rebellious’ and hip to drink or smoke dope.

      God gave you free will. Making the right choice is what He wants to see. The reason we don’t ban speech is because the battleground of ideas is where the wheat are seperated from the chaff; bad ideas are expunged, and good ideas are purified, refined, and bolstered.

      Not having this contest of thought is hazardous, as inept concepts may find their way into mainstream thinking. That is why often today universities expel worthless decrees, because they are cloistered, they offer no room for thoughtful discussion, and their academics make certain there is no way for themselves to be challenged. A challenge against their ideas is a challenge against their power as de facto ‘experts’.

      I’ll use an example to clarify: We do not agree with hateful rhetoric against differing skin colors, because that argument was fought and decided already before. But still ocassional pockets of contempt arise. But we do not silence them (even though we do) because hearing a racist’s bufoonery allows the listener to say to himself, “That is not what I believe. That man is a charlatan for saying that. There is no room in my heart for such words.”

      Let people say foolish things. Like I said, we have free will. They dont have to be punished in this li

      Report Post » The_Cabrito_Goat  
    • blue suede
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 12:57am

      Pontiac, You just don’t understand God, our creator, He will not tolerate any gods before Him. So you don’t understand what He says or why. Why do you fight Him? No one wins who fights God, God always wins. Resistance is futile.

      Report Post »  
    • Pontiac
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 2:24pm

      @The_Cabrito_Goat
      Free will? “God says do what you wish, but make the wrong choice and you will be tortured for eternity in hell. That sir, is not free will. It would be akin to a man telling his girlfriend, do what you wish, but if you choose to leave me, I will track you down and blow your brains out. When a man says this we call him a psychopath and cry out for his imprisonment/execution. When god says the same we call him ‘loving’ and build churches in his honor.” — William C. Easttom II

      @blue suede
      “our creator, He will not tolerate any gods before Him.”
      You’re just reinforcing my point. The constitution is not “god given” or “protected by god” when your god will punish people for exercising those rights. I will fight tyrants, be they real or in the minds of the ignorant, to uphold the constitution. Leave the bronze age mythology (not necessarily the philosophy) in the bronze age where it belongs. Being able to argue using reason alone is more powerful than using god as reason or polluting reason with god.
      e.g. “It is not governments role to force healthcare providers or employers to cover ‘lifestyle’ cost. Sex is a choice. Choose not to do it if you can’t afford it.”
      If you choose to mix god and prayer in this fight you will lose…
      e.g. “Contraceptives are bad, god says so. I’ll pray for you. TEA! Amen.”

      Report Post » Pontiac  
  • encinom
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:29am

    Funny, the Catholic Bishops are playing politics, while celebrating many who held biased views against the Catholic Church or Papists as they were known. Maybe the GOP Cardinals should learn their history as they hand in their tax exempt status.

    Report Post »  
    • by faith
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:38am

      craw back under the bridge troll

      Report Post » by faith  
    • Iamnotanumber
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:43pm

      You say “playing politics,” it is actually community organizing, freedom of assembly and religion.All of which are legal under the bill of rights and are not a violation of the churches tax exemption. As usual you are an oppressive troll wishing to confuse the issue among those who see through your feeble attempts.

      Report Post »  
    • dblaess
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 1:13pm

      Yes there are a number of people who are not Catholic. Yes the Catholic church is the target since they are so big. Yes I understand the Catholic church has played politics for over 2000 years. Yes the Catholic church should be supported by other Christians as this Administration and You ( Who refuses to use your real name, George) attempts to attack all Christians by taking out the Catholic church. Churchs in America do more good for people than ANY government on the planet and you and this Administration can not tolerate non government use of money. Therefore, get stuffed and also I think Charity should be double deducted at tax time.

      Report Post »  
  • ferggie
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:27am

    Holder met with 700 black church leaders to inform them how to walk a wire to push the liberal agenda. The Catholic Church needs to push back and build its own coalition against Obama.

    Report Post »  
    • Warpspeedpetey
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:35am

      Yeah Buddy!

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:43am

      The Catholic Chruch is… Split,,, by Socialists, who want Government support of Charities… and by Gosplists, who conform to Individual giving to Charity. So, it is Split… by European history… and by American revival! Then given that the Catholic Church was born out of Schism from the Orthodox… they hesitate to be involved in another Schism… because the Luther Schism led to the European “models”!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • by faith
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:11pm

      The Catholic Church predates the Orthodox by nearly 1,000 years.
      How do you prepose this reverse split happen?

      Can you provide any even remotely beleivable proof?

      Report Post » by faith  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 3:23pm

      @BY…
      History reflects… Christians were individual Sects from the time of Christ to the Roman Emperor Constantine… where in 325, he Organized Christianity at Nicaea… created the Church, later called Orthordox, assembled and published the New Testament from many Scriptures, and gave the following Hierarchy; GOT.. to Christ.. to Emperor… to Bishop of Rome… to Bishops. In 800 ad, the Bishop at Constantinople was Fired and fled to Rome… where Leo III was made Pope, called the Western Church as Catholic… and with Charlemagne established a New, Western, Roman Empire.

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • joboww
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 4:22pm

      @LukeRW

      The early church was not made up of many secs but rather churches with one head (Roman see); perhaps you need to question with boldness your take on early christianity…Id encourage anyone to read the early church fathers and the Apostalic fathers to see the early church in action…read the likes of Clement of Rome Ignatius of Antioch and so forth, the church was Catholic from the beginning. There was to be one Lord, one faith, one baptism… not many sects with different views, and if these churches dissagreed on doctorine and Christ promised both that the gates of hell would not prevail against her and that the spirit would lead her to all truths why do protestants all disagree on doctrine, then go farther to claim such things as non essensial, for Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Perhaps a quick check of Matthew 18:17…who is the church? Your local Baptist group or ….i digress, please learn before you make blatently false accusations, and do learn of the Eastern Schism not just her say

      Report Post » joboww  
    • by faith
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 5:25pm

      Luke
      you really need to stop spreading lies that take all of 2 minutes of internet search to disprove.

      Your Chick publication retread is blatantly false.

      First written reference to the “Catholic Church” happend in 107AD; Constantine did not rule until the 300′s
      The Edict of Milan (Edictum Mediolanense) was a letter signed by emperors Constantine I and Licinius that proclaimed religious freedom in the Roman Empire. That’s it. religious freedom. meaning Christianity would be tolerated along with all other religions in the Roman Empire. Christianity was not the official religion of Rome.

      Charlemagne reign began in 800AD Leo III was Pope in 795 (Charlemagne installed Leo before he was King?)

      That would be strike one, strike two and strike three

      Report Post » by faith  
    • by faith
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 5:37pm

      And for the record you seem to think the Catholic Church and the Roman Empire are the same thing. They are most definetly not. Nero, Trajan and other killed many Catholic Christians.

      As for the “Roman Catholic Church”
      It is not possible to give an exact year when the Catholic Church began to be called the “Roman Catholic Church,” but it is possible to approximate it.
      The term originates as an insult created by Anglicans who wished to refer to themselves as Catholic. They thus coined the term “Roman Catholic” to distinguish those in union with Rome from themselves and to create a sense in which they could refer to themselves as Catholics (by attempting to deprive actual Catholics to the right to the term).
      Even today many Protestants who have no idea what the origin of the term is cannot bring themselves to say “Catholic” without qualifying it or replacing it with an insult.

      Report Post » by faith  
  • lukerw
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:20am

    In the Prophecies of Malachy… this Pope would see the Fall of the Roman Empire.

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • by faith
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:43am

      Actually it’s the next Pope…Benedict XVI is the second to last Pope

      Next will be Peter the Roman.. He is listed as the last Pope
      “In extreme persecution, the seat of the Holy Roman Church will be occupied by Peter the Roman, who will feed the sheep through many tribulations, at the term of which the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the formidable Judge will judge his people. The End”

      Report Post » by faith  
    • by faith
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:00pm

      In 1139 according to Abbe Cucherat, St Malachy had a vision concerning the Popes.
      He wrote a list of 112 Popes from that time to the end of time.
      This list was supposedly given to Pope Innocent II and it was put into the Vatican archives until it was rediscovered in 1590.
      First published by Arnold de Wyon and ever since there has been much debate as to whether they are predictions of St Malachy or forgeries.

      Report Post » by faith  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:10pm

      @BY…
      To me… Olive’s Glory…. implies Benedictine, thereby Benedict of a line… and Glory implies a Golden Age, where a Fall is in Progress by definition, and where the Ripe are ready for Harvest!

      Peter, then experiences the aftermath!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • JimL
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:21pm

      Last recognized phosphecy- Revealation

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 1:02pm

      @JIML
      A secure section of the Vatican Archieves… holds many Prophecies… such as of Lourds about WWI… where, in fact, Madona sightings are accompanied by Warnings Of Disaster!

      GOD did not die with John of Revelations!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • JimL
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 1:40pm

      Lukerw: Public vs private

      Report Post »  
    • by faith
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:00pm

      Gloria olivæ
      The Benedictine order traditionally said this Pope would come from their order, since a branch of the Benedictine order is called the Olivetans. St Benedict is said to have prophesied that before the end of the world, a member of his order would be Pope and would triumphantly lead the Church in its fight against evil.
      While the Holy Father chose the name “Benedict”, this does not seem enough to fulfil the prophecy. Nor is it clear how Benedict XVI (a Bavarian) is “Glory of the Olives”. Since he is said to have remarked in the Conclave after saying he would take the name Benedict that it was partly to honour Benedict XV, a pope of peace and reconciliation, perhaps Benedict XVI will be a peacemaker in the Church or in the World, and thus carry the olive branch.

      Again IF the list is not a FORGERY

      Report Post » by faith  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:06pm

      @JIML
      Ezekiel 3:17-19; There is No Private WORD OF GOD… and Omission is Sin punished by Soul Death!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • JimL
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:19pm

      Lukerw: The Word Incarnate

      Report Post »  
    • edmundburk
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:29pm

      @LUKERW- listen dude I generally enjoy your posts but this catholic bating has got to stop, even though you may disagree with our doctrines, we christains need to put aside our differances to band
      together to fight this anti-christain obama. after all, after we fall, you and your tiny little denamination
      are next.

      Report Post » edmundburk  
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