Michael Matt is a good Catholic man, but ‘naiveté’ is his weakness: 'Donald Trump breaks with Israel’s war machine and brokers a peace deal with Iran. Bibi is reportedly furious (oh well), and the ridiculous charge of antisemitism leveled against anyone who opposes Israel’s war has finally been laid to rest. . . unless, that is, you’re prepared to call President Trump an antisemite, too…….’
The truth is, if the US was to tell Israel to stop its war on Gaza, that is, stop the weapon delivery to the genocidal regime, it would end tomorrow. It, won’t. Every senior official in the Trump administration is a diehard supporter of Israel that has taken money from pro-Israel groups, while the Republican President’s campaign was bankrolled by Israel’s richest billionaire, Miriam Adelson.
“For it is the Church which, by the exercise of its charity, has given gentleness to the minds of men, kindness to their manners, and justice to their laws; and, never opposed to honest liberty. SHE HAS ALWAYS DETESTED A TYRANT’S RULE.” ~Pope Leo XIII, Diuturnum, 1881
Well, naive is one way to look at it. I prefer to think Matt follows the advice of St. Francis de Sales. Always put the best construction on the actions of others and the most critical on your own. Trump is certainly not perfect and I've criticized many of positions, especially IVF! Pope Leo no doubt will disappoint everyone one way or another. But as Matt says, he appears to be a sincere man, no bully, a lover of truth, and respectful of the flock, which Francis certainly was not. Hope is the virtue we need in these trying days. I'm hopeful!
Matt's intentions are sincere, he's been fighting the good fight defending the Faith, but he is naive when it comes to political arena......again his intentions are sincere (as are yours).
It's too early to expect too much from Pope Leo XIV, he is after all a product of his post-Vatican II predecessors, surrounded by the 'wolves', but if his heart is sincere, slowly, but systematically, with the grace that was given to him, that he may follow St. Peter in zeal for religion and the salvation of souls......God willing we'll all benefit from it. Long live the Pope!
To be clear, this kind of 'Catholic naiveté' is something like a compromise to Catholic truths. It was never so obvious in the past elections, until the rise of Donald Trump, that has caused such frenzy, hysteria and flattery (ad nausea), especially among Catholics. Never seen in the political arena of this country. Our Lord warned us: 'Be wise as a serpent, and simple as a dove.......for the children of darkness are wiser than the children of light.....' This is one of the reasons, why this God given country continues to be run down by His enemies. Miserere!
I'm not totally clear on your point. I don't think accepting reality is naive. We don't live in a perfect world. When you are faced with imperfect alternatives, which most political alternatives are, you do the best you can to go with the one that will most protect the common good. Even popes have done that throughout history. You seem to imply that is evil and a compromise with the truth. Have I misunderstood?
Yes, you have. It is called Americanism. In other words, the weakness of the United States Catholics. The list goes on and on and seems without end. This is the United States of America where, "The Sovereignty of the People' usurps the position of the Sovereignty of God" (The Framework of a Christian State). Pondering about it, will do us, Catholics some good.....volumes have been written, even by pre-Vatican II popes.
Viva Cristo Rey! It's almost time for 'Regina Caeli.....'
I've written a number of articles on Americanism. It's certainly a problem with those who put the secular above the spiritual. I would say that is the M.O. of modernists and progressives. Matt doesn't do that and neither do I. If you are interested in what I've written about Americanism, go here. https://lesfemmes-thetruth.blogspot.com/search?q=Americanism Some of our bishops are certainly guilty of it as were Cardinal Gibbons, Bishop Ireland, and Isaac Hecker. Today the American Exceptionalism mantra continues the error. Interesting that it was Pope Leo XIII who opposed it. Perhaps our new Leo will clarify things once again.
Catholics seem traumatized. We had 12 years of abuse, the abuser's dead, but we don't want to go back. Well who would. We're also pretty divided, realizing our fellow Catholics often have fuzzy ideas about Catholicism. It's all made us jittery, maybe crabby. Not without reason. We need to heal, if possible. That will take time. Michael Matt is undoubtedly sincere, as is Fr. Z, who's been taking some heat for a minor comment. These men have done yeoman's work for literally decades. I'm appreciative. I remember the bad old days of knowing something was very wrong, but having no earthly way of finding out what. Thanks to these men, and other Catholic pundits, we are now much better informed. That may be for good or ill, I don't know. But after all we've suffered, if we become legalists, or if we turn into a circular firing squad, that will be dysfunctional as well. I did not appreciate Pope Leo declaring Francis in heaven. But Pope Leo seems heartfelt about the office he holds, he seems reflective in nature, and he's clearly no Francis II, thanks be to God. He will not be a perfect pope. Let's hope and pray he can be merely a good pope. He is a man nesting in a brood of vipers, he needs our prayers and support if he is to withstand it at all.
Michael Matt is a good Catholic man, but ‘naiveté’ is his weakness: 'Donald Trump breaks with Israel’s war machine and brokers a peace deal with Iran. Bibi is reportedly furious (oh well), and the ridiculous charge of antisemitism leveled against anyone who opposes Israel’s war has finally been laid to rest. . . unless, that is, you’re prepared to call President Trump an antisemite, too…….’
ReplyDeleteThe truth is, if the US was to tell Israel to stop its war on Gaza, that is, stop the weapon delivery to the genocidal regime, it would end tomorrow. It, won’t. Every senior official in the Trump administration is a diehard supporter of Israel that has taken money from pro-Israel groups, while the Republican President’s campaign was bankrolled by Israel’s richest billionaire, Miriam Adelson.
“For it is the Church which, by the exercise of its charity, has given gentleness to the minds of men, kindness to their manners, and justice to their laws; and, never opposed to honest liberty. SHE HAS ALWAYS DETESTED A TYRANT’S RULE.”
~Pope Leo XIII, Diuturnum, 1881
Well, naive is one way to look at it. I prefer to think Matt follows the advice of St. Francis de Sales. Always put the best construction on the actions of others and the most critical on your own. Trump is certainly not perfect and I've criticized many of positions, especially IVF! Pope Leo no doubt will disappoint everyone one way or another. But as Matt says, he appears to be a sincere man, no bully, a lover of truth, and respectful of the flock, which Francis certainly was not. Hope is the virtue we need in these trying days. I'm hopeful!
DeleteMatt's intentions are sincere, he's been fighting the good fight defending the Faith, but he is naive when it comes to political arena......again his intentions are sincere (as are yours).
ReplyDeleteIt's too early to expect too much from Pope Leo XIV, he is after all a product of his post-Vatican II predecessors, surrounded by the 'wolves', but if his heart is sincere, slowly, but systematically, with the grace that was given to him, that he may follow St. Peter in zeal for religion and the salvation of souls......God willing we'll all benefit from it.
Long live the Pope!
To be clear, this kind of 'Catholic naiveté' is something like a compromise to Catholic truths. It was never so obvious in the past elections, until the rise of Donald Trump, that has caused such frenzy, hysteria and flattery (ad nausea), especially among Catholics. Never seen in the political arena of this country.
ReplyDeleteOur Lord warned us: 'Be wise as a serpent, and simple as a dove.......for the children of darkness are wiser than the children of light.....'
This is one of the reasons, why this God given country continues to be run down by His enemies. Miserere!
I'm not totally clear on your point. I don't think accepting reality is naive. We don't live in a perfect world. When you are faced with imperfect alternatives, which most political alternatives are, you do the best you can to go with the one that will most protect the common good. Even popes have done that throughout history. You seem to imply that is evil and a compromise with the truth. Have I misunderstood?
DeleteWhy do Anonymous people lecture us, but won't tell us who they really are?
DeleteGotta laugh since you post as Anonymous.
DeleteYes, you have.
ReplyDeleteIt is called Americanism. In other words, the weakness of the United States Catholics. The list goes on and on and seems without end.
This is the United States of America where, "The Sovereignty of the People' usurps the position of the Sovereignty of God" (The Framework of a Christian State).
Pondering about it, will do us, Catholics some good.....volumes have been written, even by pre-Vatican II popes.
Viva Cristo Rey!
It's almost time for 'Regina Caeli.....'
I've written a number of articles on Americanism. It's certainly a problem with those who put the secular above the spiritual. I would say that is the M.O. of modernists and progressives. Matt doesn't do that and neither do I. If you are interested in what I've written about Americanism, go here. https://lesfemmes-thetruth.blogspot.com/search?q=Americanism Some of our bishops are certainly guilty of it as were Cardinal Gibbons, Bishop Ireland, and Isaac Hecker. Today the American Exceptionalism mantra continues the error. Interesting that it was Pope Leo XIII who opposed it. Perhaps our new Leo will clarify things once again.
DeleteCatholics seem traumatized. We had 12 years of abuse, the abuser's dead, but we don't want to go back. Well who would. We're also pretty divided, realizing our fellow Catholics often have fuzzy ideas about Catholicism. It's all made us jittery, maybe crabby. Not without reason. We need to heal, if possible. That will take time. Michael Matt is undoubtedly sincere, as is Fr. Z, who's been taking some heat for a minor comment. These men have done yeoman's work for literally decades. I'm appreciative. I remember the bad old days of knowing something was very wrong, but having no earthly way of finding out what. Thanks to these men, and other Catholic pundits, we are now much better informed. That may be for good or ill, I don't know. But after all we've suffered, if we become legalists, or if we turn into a circular firing squad, that will be dysfunctional as well. I did not appreciate Pope Leo declaring Francis in heaven. But Pope Leo seems heartfelt about the office he holds, he seems reflective in nature, and he's clearly no Francis II, thanks be to God. He will not be a perfect pope. Let's hope and pray he can be merely a good pope. He is a man nesting in a brood of vipers, he needs our prayers and support if he is to withstand it at all.
ReplyDelete